Exsisto Paratus

Exsisto Paratus: Latin "to become prepared"

A couple weeks ago my buddy Hoser and I headed down to Joe's Bar with our dads after a long day of pheasant hunting. After a couple cold Milwaukees and much deliberation, the best shot of the day (me) was declared. Then just like a lot of 12oz. conversations, the topic changed from who's tougher, to who had it rougher.  I reminisced of the many times, that no matter where we were going and no matter how much time we had, my father would stop on a dime with his hazards on just to make my brother or I get out of the truck to pick up a 63 cent bungee cord (whether it had hooks or not).

Immediately after making this statement my dad defended himself by arguing "Well you never know when you're gonna need it!"  This awkward account was quickly rivaled by Hoser recalling that during his childhood his dad made him bend nails straight just to save money.  Call it being frugal or call it being cheap, the bottom line is that it is very important to be prepared in all aspects of life.

           
There have been quite a few times when traveling down our nation's interstate systems and highways, when I have been behind someone who was not prepared.  One such time was when I was in Boy Scouts, (which keep in mind the Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared") and our whole troop headed up to the mountains on our early February camping expedition.  During our pre-cell phone era switch back journey towards our wintery camping lodge summit - miles from any gas station or Wal-Mart - we accumulated about six to eight inches of snow. Being from Wisconsin, where we learn to drive on icy/snowy roads, my father had no problems staying on the road.  Out of the six vehicles packed with Boy Scouts, two troop leaders, and four dads - three of them winded up in the ditch.  Not one of them in the ditch had a tow strap, shovel, flares, or adequate winter gear to get them out of this situation. Knowing that just because it was 60° in Denver didn't mean that the weather; when traveling another 5,000 ft above sea level would be so accommodating.  My father was wise enough to pack a tow strap and the camping trip is still one of the most valuable experiences in my life.  Wisconsinite saves the day!
 

Whether you're towing the boat to go fishing, the camper to go camping, or just heading to the grocery store it is an absolute necessity to be prepared.  Think about the different environmental aspects of the locations that you are going to be traveling through.  Think about your passengers and what they might require in emergency situations.  Keep in mind there are still places in this country that cell phones don't work and another person isn't always just around the corner.

According to the American Time Use Survey the average American will work over 100,000 hrs in their lifetime.  Don't let unpreparedness eat up your precious leisure time - save a couple minutes - pick up a bungee! 


Travis Mai - Hitch Guy
Technical Product Support Rep. - CURT Mfg.