Car Wash & Doggie Day Spa
- Joan Greene
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Have you ever had one of those days when you experienced the world at its best and
worst, and it all feels like the script was written in the stars?
About every 6th Friday of the year, I chase my little dog August (Augie) Greene around
the living room and foyer so I can put a harness on him and give him a car ride to his
regular grooming appointment. He loves car time and forgets each time that we are
heading for “spa day;” which is not his favorite. He is all wags and looking out the
window as we drive to Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, the home of the late, country music great,
Charlie Daniels and the dog grooming salon that cleans up my little scuffer nutter.
Lately, I have been super busy and honestly the inside of my SUV looks a great deal
like my father’s work truck did. I am the product of that man and his ways in more ways
than one. I think he understood priorities and what really matters better than most, but
once in a while you just have to clean out your vehicle.
As luck would have it, there was a car wash right next to the dog groomer’s studio. I
made the appointment online and opted for the $70 express clean which said that it
would take approximately an hour. As I pulled into the car wash I had prepared myself
to give up an hour of productive work for the sake of the car and my need for some
order.
Turning into the luxury wash I saw two gentlemen talking, not another customer in line,
one car already in the bay. Ten minutes later one of the men clapped the other on the
back, told him one more story and headed over to me. My clock was ticking but I was
on mission CLEAN CAR so I waited until he approached. I explained that I had an
appointment for the $70 express detail and how excited I was to get the vehicle
cleaned.
First thing out of his mouth, “Which one did you select?” Next thing, “Oh no, you need
the $200 one. The sign did not show a $200 one so I asked what that entailed and how
long it would take. He said, he would talk with his team and walked away to the bay. 15
minutes later he came back and said that because they would have to work me in that it
would be $400 and 2 hours. Go figure, I had an appointment.
I know, I know this is getting long, but people, by that time I had been in that driveway
for 30 minutes. Suddenly, my good sense took over and I asked him how to get turned
around and I left the place that I had put so much hope in.
My dog witnessed it all and if he were the human that I think he is sometimes he would
tell you my side of the story — the guy was rude, kept me waiting for 30 minutes and
never intended to clean my vehicle. You could say my day was not working out the way
I had planned, but I never give up. I dropped Augie, the Doggie, off for his cleaning and
Googled car washes. That was the beginning of the miracle and a bit of bad luck turned
around.
My search said that the closest regular car wash was CAMEL EXPRESS CAR WASH
on 4195 N. Mount Juliet Road, Mount Juliet, TN. It was not a mile away and I decided
that a drive-through car wash would be better than driving that dirty car home. When I
drove in two young women greeted me.
Off I went into the tunnel of suds, jets of water coming from everywhere and a Muppet
worthy drying brush at the end. I mean that Camel Express honestly is a wonder with a
rainbow of bubbles and polishes and the drying brush at the end was spectacular. In
the brief moments that it took to get to the flashing “GO” light I had become a car wash
convert and promised myself I would make this particular one a regular stop.
At one of the vacuuming spots I began the task of trying to get the crumbs and dust and
straw out of the car. Why do I have so much straw on my floor board? If you could see
all this Honda Pilot has hauled from small sofas to buckets of fresh flowers; your would
not be surprised at anything that was hiding in those hard to reach areas.
Things were looking up about five minutes into the DIY adventure. The driver side done,
I closed the car door and reached for the handle of the back door. Always expect the
unexpected. Somehow the car defied all normal operating procedures. I was locked
out of my car. My keys and phone where inside and I tried every door. How could that
be? The guy next to me assured me that was impossible, but even his magic touch
could not get the Honda open. Did I mentioned that the wind had started to blow like
crazy and my hair was blowing in my face? And I think I left out that the groomer had
told me to be back within an hour after I left Augie because she had to close early that
day.
So, I walked around to the office to ask if they would call AAA. The same greeters met
me at the office door and immediately offered to call for help. Then one said to the
other, “You are friends with lots of police and I think they will help her.”
Are you waiting for the miracle? At that very second the Mt. Juliet K-9 officer’s vehicle
pulled in for a car wash. My new champions rushed over and told him about my locked
car and he said that he would be around to help me.
While I stood by that demon locked car, the owner of the Camel Express came by and
offered to help. His name is Tyler and we had such a quality discussion in the moments
before Officer Brown pulled behind my car. I felt helped and cared for in a place that it
was not about how much I spent; it was about being seen and my business appreciated.
Not one of them made me feel my little problem was petty or had interrupted their day.
On the contrary, it was like I was the most important person in the world and they were
going to see it through until I was back in my car and able to go pick up my dog.
Lately, I have been seeing love so clearly in the small things, in looking at what is right
in front of me and being so thankful. Officer Brown was what every public servant
should be - skilled, professional and kind. Tyler, the Camel Express owner never left my
side. This was no disaster! It was a key locked in a car, but I got to see humanity at its
best in that place.
It is the little kindnesses that make a difference, can change a person’s day and make the world kinder.
Some days it feels like the only humans I encounter are like the man who basically
turned me away from an appointment that I had made. Maybe he felt big and powerful
at the moment and maybe his team congratulated him on being a touch negotiator or
maybe he was just having a bad day. Who knows? But I know that going the extra
mile, seeing the situation from the other side of the coin takes strength and character.
Hours later, than I planned, I arrived home with my clean dog. The car had been
washed twice, buffed and puffed. I walked around the car to get Augie out and there it
was a huge ten inch strip of bird pooh on that recently cleaned right front side panel.
Maybe my father was right - one minute clean next minute - well, you know. A bit of
water and windex gave me back the luster.
There will always be birds that poop on your parade. Some people will call it good luck
and others who will wave their fist at the air. The trick is to remember the kindness and
let the bad go — stand your ground and do what you know is right and true and kind.
A quick sidebar — Making your dog more at home.
In my design work, I am always thinking about how families live in their spaces and how
to elevate their experience. Dogs are family too, so I love that we are integrating unique
spaces into our homes especially for our K-9 buddies. There is something deeply
comforting about a home that has been designed not only for the people, but also for
our beloved pets.
A well-designed pet space should feel as refined and inviting as the rest of the home.
Think tailored upholstery, beautiful millwork, warm textures, and details that quietly
blend function with comfort and style. A luxury pet bed is no longer simply a cushion
tucked in the corner. It may be a custom upholstered daybed nestled beneath a sunny
window, a woven basket layered with soft linen bedding beside the fireplace, or a built-in sleeping nook finished with the same trim details and paint colors used throughout the home. These special spaces become part of the overall design story.
One of my favorite ideas is transforming the area beneath a staircase into a cozy retreat
for dogs. Instead of wasted square footage, this tucked-away space becomes a integral
and stylish addition to your family life.
The goal is not simply to “make room” for pets. It is to create spaces that acknowledge
how much they are a part of the family. The result is a home that feels warmer and more wonderfully lived in — a place where every member of the household,
including the four-legged ones, has a beautiful place to belong.
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