My sister gave me a car for my birthday last week and, in the process, just about saved my world.

It’s a 2002 Chevrolet Tracker with almost 180,000 miles on it. The original green paint job is starting to give way to the primer underneath and the radio has a habit of quitting mid-song and emitting a high-pitched screech.

With all of that said, I couldn’t be happier. I’ve got a new (for me) Tracker and I’m driving it everyday.

The story of this new ride began two Fridays ago on the morning of Dec. 8, the same day our region was inundated with a December snow unmatched in recent memory.

My wife and I spent the previous evening at my mother’s Metairie home and were driving into LaPlace via Interstate 10 just before 5 a.m.

We heard a small boom or pop, followed by what was either a flopping tire flap or broken strap.

My SUV lost steam in a hurry and coasted to the I-10 shoulder, where it stopped. It did not start again. It needed a tow truck.

The positioning was tricky, we were still hours from daybreak, frigid temperatures were upon us and we were stranded at the I-10, I-310 split.

My first call was to the Louisiana State Police, who said someone would be out shortly. My second call was to my mom, who graciously met us on the side of the road, picked up my wife and brought her to work.

My third call was to our insurance company, where an on-call attendant took my information and proceeded to drop the call when conferring with a wrecker.

Speeding forward, it took a shade over two hours but a super cool wrecker operator (Rod, you’re my man) got me hooked up and out of harm’s way.

A special thank you also to the State Trooper, whose name I did not get, for waiting with me on the side of the road for more than a half hour. He clearly knew we were in an unsafe location but told me he would not leave as long as I was there.

When the temperature is around 30 degrees and it’s still dark as night, such an act is tremendously appreciated.

Thankfully, Rod got my truck to Tire Town in LaPlace and I was, somehow, still able to make it to the office for 8 a.m.

My good friends at Tire Town, unfortunately, called a few hours later with the bad news — the engine was shot; there was no repairing it. When I got back over there in the afternoon, they put the SUV on a lift and pointed out four separate holes in the engine block created by some sort of mid-drive break.

Staff members on hand said they had never seen anything like it and were consoling me like I was leaving the emergency room, having just lost a family member.

Although not brokenhearted by the loss, I was flummoxed by the practicalities of having only one vehicle and keeping up with the work and school schedules of my wife, children and I.

Throw in the Christmas season shopping, and most parents would agree it’s also not the time of year to easily handle an unexpected, vehicle-purchase expenditure.

That’s where my sister came into play.

The next day was Dec. 9, my 37th birthday. It was also just days after her 26th birthday, so when she met me, with keys in hand, gifting me temporary use of the very car that got her through college, it saved my season.

It might not be the prettiest vehicle, but it sure runs and buys me the time needed to figure out my next move. Now, that’s a good birthday present.

Stephen Hemelt is publisher and editor of L’OBSERVATEUR. He can be reached at 985-652-9545 or stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.