Cars
Technically I am writing this on day #20 because yesterday I was stranded for over 4 hours due to a car breakdown. Over 3 hours of it was waiting for the promised tow truck. I was upset that I didn't have any reading material in my car and I had just run out to give someone something and was going to go right back home to finish a project I started that was spread out on the kitchen table. I could have finished it yesterday, but it's still spread out and I have a full day of appointments today.
Yesterday was a huge test of patience. I am a pretty patient person, but when you are tested and the anxiety keeps building and building, there is a breaking point.
So, today I am reminded that in over fifty years we have had our share of car issues, and some have been historic. Looking back makes yesterday not so bad. I could make this a countdown of the top 10 worst car memories.
One of the worst times was when both cars were out of commission on Christmas Eve. I really don't remember how long we were without. I just know we were in Norfolk and I remember George being outside with someone working on one car. I remember having to change our Christmas plans.
Tiffany had two nightmares. One she was on the Mass. Pike when she had a flat tire. AAA would not go to change a tire on the highway because it was too dangerous. So, of course, George had to. In retrospect, perhaps we could have called a policeman to block him while he changed it.
Her other one was driving home from Messiah College in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving. Her car broke down and the good news was that she found a garage who would work on it to get her home for Thanksgiving (I really think we should have sent them goodies or something for their kindness, but we didn't). Poor Tiffany had to stay in a motel by herself for the first time. She could write a story about this, I'm sure.
I will not begin to go into the car horror stories with Ben. I want to forget those.
Before kids, we had a Datsun XL, the only car we bought brand new (and never will do that again). At some point it needed a new engine. We had one put in and the garage put in the wrong size! That ended in a lawsuit.
I truly think the number one worst car nightmare for me, was when we were getting ready to take the kids on vacation to Pennsylvania. We planned to show them some of our favorite sites. I planned car games and snacks (the journey is part of the vacation fun--or so I tried to make it that way). We put on a roof rack and packed it all full and secured it. We all piled into the car and when George went to start it, it wouldn't start. Talk about disappointment.
We had to unpack everything, find a garage and be at their time schedule mercy. Of course, we were using vacation time and couldn't postpone our vacation and didn't want the kids to miss out. I scrambled around and found a resort in Moodus, CT that had an inground pool, a mess hall for meals, crafts and activities. I remember the four of us square dancing together, but sadly the kids don't remember. We took them to an electric plant for a tour down there and free Louey the Lightning Bug merchandise. It wasn't a big get away, but at least we did get away for a few days. But imagine a car all packed for a great vacation and having to unpack everything and the disappointment.
For me a car is something to get me from here to there. We had a Corvair convertible for a short while. I really don't care for convertibles. I'm afraid I'll lose something blowing away. My first car, my Chevy II Nova was my baby. I was so sad when we had to sell it due to rusting floor. The person buying it was going to take it to California. I wonder if Benjamin Blue made it. My son says, "So I was named after a car!"
George's first car was a VW bug and he didn't have that long before he rolled it and that was that.
We have had a lot of cars over 50 years. I think our favorite was our Hyundai Sonata. It was the most loyal car ever!
George's dream car would be a Checker. Mine? Like I said, get me from here to there but I do like my current Nissan Rogue that I "accidently" got. With three car seats in the back, it is my Grammy mobile--well for the littles. I have to switch cars when I get the older ones.
Cars, sometimes exasperating but a blessing and we can't live without them.
"Consider it pure joy...when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance...so that you may be mature and complete."
James 1:2-4
