In 1960 I bought a used Volkswagen. The People’s Car. Soon to be endeared to millions of motorists as The Bug or more commonly called a Beetle. Why a foreign car? I guess like many of my generation, I was boycotting the Big Three North American auto makers - annoyed with their shoddy workmanship and over-pricing.

The VW was great in snow, although the heating was virtually non-existent. No worries. Just glue on frost shields - they worked like storm windows. Everyone wore a parka anyway, so no probs there. And it was great on gas. So much so, it didn’t even have a gas gauge. Not to worry. It had an emergency 1-gallon gas tank - simply turn the lever and drive another 50 miles. Only had to remember to turn the lever back when you get gas and to refill the emergency tank. A mistake I was to pay for dearly one cold winter’s day.

On Christmas Day, my best friend John Kressock and I picked up my girlfriend from the Nurse’s Residence to go visit my parents in Gimli. As she was in training, a day pass was required. The pass came with with strict instructions to be back by 5 o’clock. No excuses, no exceptions. The penalty for missing curfew was 60 days confined to barracks. Conditions accepted and off we went. The day was enjoyable with good food and good fellowship. Ever mindful of the time, we started the trip back to Winnipeg.

On the way home, there was no traffic and lots of laughing. We were making good time until the car stopped running in the middle of nowhere. Not even a farmhouse in sight. Luckily, we had a simple solution: turn the lever to the emergency tank. OOPS! The last time I gassed up I forgot to turn it back from the last time I ran out of gas. OK, so Plan B: have to get some gas. I had spotted a small store 5 miles back that had a gas pump. Of course, it was -30 with a stiff North wind blowing. After all this was winter in Manitoba. Unfortunately, I was dressed for a car ride in an unheated VW and not for a walk on a frozen, prairie highway.

Holy mackerel it was cold!

As I walked along the road to the gas station, no cars passed me going either direction. A bad omen. I made it to the Corner Store and pounded on the door. No answer. More pounding. Finally, a voice answered, “Go away. We are CLOSED.” In a frozen voice I explained my situation. The answer, “we are still CLOSED.” I said I would keep pounding until I froze to death. Whereupon the door opened to reveal a very miserable-looking man. “Did you even bring a gas can?” he growled. “No” I said through chattering teeth. Well, a two-dollar deposit on the can was required. And one dollar for the gas. “Could you drive me back to my car, sir?” I asked but I knew the answer was no even before the door slammed in my face.

OK. Now we have some gas. Challenge accepted - start walking the 5 miles back. After about 2 miles, I had serious doubts I would make it. I was that cold. Then a miracle happened: I heard a car coming! I stood in the middle of the road waving the can. Aware that the driver might not want to stop, fearing this was some nut on the loose, I didn’t move from the center line - either hit you hit me or hit the ditch I thought as I did my best not to look like a crazy person. He stopped! The driver cautiously opened the window a crack. I said I am out of gas down the road. My girlfriend and best friend need me to bring this gas to them. “Get in”, he said.

When we arrived at my car, the occupants were equally as cold. The wife of the driver told them to get in the warm car while I poured the gas in the tank. I tried the ignition but the battery was dead. Can you give me a push with your car? He lined up and gave the Beetle a nudge - bingo! It started. When the couple learned that there was no heat in my car, they offered to keep the passengers in their car until we made it to Winnipeg, 20 miles down the road.

When we finally made it back to the Nurse’s Residence, we were past curfew. My girlfriend was met at the door and promptly marched to her room. Sixty days later, when she completed lockdown, we were able to get together and over a hot cup of coffee we had a good laugh.

A number of years later, my girlfriend had now become my beautiful wife Eve-Anne, the Beetle had been replaced with an SUV with a functional heating system, the gas tank was full and there was plenty of winter survival gear packed in the trunk. We were on the same piece of road on a very cold winter’s day when we came upon an individual walking the opposite direction with a gas can. We promptly turned around, remembering our own experience, and offered him a lift to the service station a couple miles back. He explained he had no money or credit card as he was out of work and heading to his parents’ house 10 miles up the road to try and start anew. I filled his can. We drove him back to his car and sent him on his way. We continued on, sharing a warm and cozy feeling that had nothing to do with the functioning heater and everything to do with the gift of being able to return a kindness shown to us so many years ago.

Ken Kristjanson
August 2021