MANY years ago, when I was fresh out of school and working in Denver, I was driving to my parents’ home in Missouri for Christmas. Suddenly, I found black smoke pouring from the back of my car. I stopped and wondered what I was supposed to do.  A car pulled up behind me. A couple came out. They said they would take me to my parents’ home. We chatted on the way into the city, and when I got out of the car, the husband gave me his business card.