Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Another year older and a little bit wiser

It's a little over a year ago that I crashed my car into another poor soul who had stopped to make a left turn. Both cars were totalled. I took the check and bought a nearly identical car that was five years newer from a used car lot. Thus began my long car repair history, much of it spent at Rosedale Chev. I don't even want to know how much money was wasted on keeping that used car running.

So it was that I had yet another appointment to bring it in for service on my birthday last Monday. (I spent $400 on brake work the week before but the check-engine light was on and it was shaking when in reverse.) The verdict was another $500 repair plus confirmation the transmission was on its last legs (which we already knew). It was obviously time to "pull the plug" on the car.

I had been laboring under the impression that if I treated the car well and helped it get over its past abuse and neglect, I would be rewarded with a dependable, well-behaved vehicle. This was childishly anthropomorphic of me, I know. It sorta falls into line with "putting it out to the universe" type thinking--that never works for me either.
Old Jewish saying, 
"Do you know how to make God laugh? 
Tell Him your plans!"

Upon reaching this dreaded decision, I was in such despair I asked Chad, the repair-shop supervisor if they had a "crying room". However, upbeat as ever, he said they could set me up with a leased car and turned me over a salesman to get the information. Long story short, I wound up buying a new car. It took half of my savings account and I'll be making car payments for the rest of my life, but I will have reliable transportation.

I'm telling myself that I did my bit for our economy. I just wish I could feel better about it.



8 comments:

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Oh, Ms. Sparrow. Everyone gets to whine once in a while, and car troubles certainly qualify. I hope you enjoy your new car for its dependability and its newness, and that it takes you to some special places.

Linda Myers said...

Imagine how it will feel to be able to count on your new car.

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Now, you're safe and ready to go anytime you want to, with no worries! Enjoy it....and doggone those ol' payments anyway! You'll be secure but have lighter pockets!
We have a Malibu, and love it. Is that what your car is?

Ms Sparrow said...

Thanks for your words of encouragement! I do enjoy hopping in the car without holding my breath!
I went with the Impala because the Malibu was too small to get three great-grandkids with car seats into.

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Sparrow chic said...

Oh my, at the rate the girls are growing, will you be updating to a minivan ? Loved the color of your new car, by the way !!!!
And, the trials and tribulations of owning a vehicle. But, what would we do without them ???

Daughter Number Three said...

Ms. Sparrow, I recently followed in your footsteps of totalling a car (that didn't even seem that damaged) in a minor, no-injury accident, then replacing it with a 4-year-newer one of the same model. I hope mine turns out better than yours did! But glad you have dependable transportation now.

Barbara Blundell said...

Hope you enjoy the new car ! Live today !