Zebb

I had wrapped up a scorching driving range session at my golf club and I was driving down the Dallas Tollway to NorthPark to get my friend a birthday present. As I was driving, something hit my windshield so hard that it totally grabbed my attention. It sounded like a pebble, but I never saw it. I started looking for any sign of a crack, and there it was: right above my wiper blade, a pea-sized crack.

Once I got to NorthPark, I booked a same-day service appointment, and three hours later I was at the dealership. Funny enough, the crack had already grown like three inches or so.

A guy checked me in, and then I waited for my advisor so I could explain the issue. A tall white guy with a long beard, probably in his 40s, approached me with very intentional eye contact and introduced himself. “Mr. Saadat, what have you got for me?” he asked.

I explained the issues (there was another one, too). When I showed him the crack, he said: “A crackidy crack we got here! If you go to the car wash now, this tiny crack would [he made a screeching sound] all the way to the side!” Then we moved to his office for the paperwork. “How has your day been so far?” I asked. He replied, again with a very intentional smile: “Best day of my life. It’s been a great day at work.”

As we did the paperwork, we casually started talking about random things: the 90s songs playing in their office, the new codes they had for windshield replacement, travel plans, everything. I told him I’m visiting Boston soon and he assumed I was going to see family. I explained that my family is back in Tehran, and we talked a little about the war as well. He seemed aware and centered about the topic.

Somewhere in the middle of the paperwork, he abruptly thanked me for my manner, and for the fact that not many people come to service appointments with a smile on their face. He showed me a picture of his lovely family, gave me a loaner in a higher class than my own car, and kept on talking.

Once we finished business and he pulled up the loaner, I brought my golf bag over from my car and we shook hands. I told him: “I was in Europe a few weeks ago, and in a random bar in Odda we hung out with some peeps from everywhere, and there was this German girl. She told us about this German thing of buying beers for each other. You buy for someone, they buy for someone else, and it just goes on. I will remember you in a positive way, and I hope you do the same about me.” He agreed, we talked a bit more, shook hands again, and off I went.

He’ll probably share this with his wife or a buddy over a beer, and I get to document it here. What a blessing to be around aware people. Once you see one, you’ll realize they’re everywhere, and you just gotta stay open. His name is Zebb, the coolest car advisor I’ve ever met.