key locked in your car? just use your pencil

During the current slowdown in the economies of many Americans are out of cash for incidentals. Suffering, even the minimum set back economic can have disastrous consequences especially for a single mother. A common case that requires an unexpected financial payment can damage a monthly budget.

I recently had an event. I was gathering all my supplies out of the car and I accidentally locked the keys in the car. I was immediately overcome with grief and anguish. To call a locksmith for assistance on a Saturday would cost more than $ 100.

I spent feeling sorry for myself time and dreading a phone call to ask my parents for financial support. With Christmas only a few weeks I had no extra money available. I hated feeling like a helpless woman weak. I had to do something before calling for help.

After watching videos on opening a car door with a hanger, a shoe string, a cell phone and a tennis ball began to feel empowered to help myself. I tried the tennis ball trick without success. Then I tried to tie a knot on a shoe string to open it. I could get the tape of shoes at the door, but the noose that the release before he could reach the lock. The next attempt was a coat hanger. Could get the coat hanger, but when it was weak and did not have enough control over it to reach the locking lever. I began to feel defeated.

Not willing to give up but decided to try again with my own set of homemade tools. I had learned from each attempt and decided I had to find something to make a small opening around the window of the door to work freely. I decided to use a pencil, because it was the right size and I felt it would not harm the door. I looked in my kitchen to find something with a metal stronger than a hanger. I found a Bar-BQ spike with a loop at the tip of your finger. I went to work.

I used the pencil to the gap between the door frames and create a small work area. The pen cracked, but not damages the car and served the purpose of making a small space to insert the skewer. I slipped on the skewer with the loop inside. It was just the right length to get to lift the blockade. I used the door frame as a lever to bend the skewer to get to the lock removal. Surprisingly, the finger loop on the skewer fit perfectly on top of the lock. I could see the blockage of the movement to lift the skewer and then I heard the click of the lock. I used the door handle and opened immediately.

I felt joyful, inspired, proud, and power. I had helped to overcome a desperate situation. I did not need to call my parents for help. No need to pay a locksmith to rescue me. I took the situation under control and found a solution. I’m proud of myself and I know that when faced with adversity in the future I will try to handle it myself because I am able!