Good Bye Ole' Friend

I was going to talk about my car but I got distracted with LIFE again, so here is that story. Ever have a car break down to the point of no return? Most people trade in their cars every couple of years and get a fresh one so they don’t have to worry about minor break downs. What about the Major ones? What a horrible feeling to think the car you were just driving about 2 minutes ago will no longer be dependable, reliable, good to go, old faithful anymore. I used to think that a car was just a mechanical device that was supposed to get me from point A to point B. I found out the most people see their car as a relations ship, an emotional mechanical relationship. People eat in their car, some sleep in their car; some people I know even have names for their car. Then, when the time comes to get rid of the car, it’s almost like losing a friend. We are happy to get the new shiny one, but sad to see our old friend dragged away. I lost my old friend a month ago. I only owned the car for 18 months, paid a little bit for it but the car served me well. Number one and number two got used to the routine of a two door, (lift the seat and squeeze in back). They both enjoyed shifting the stick as I drove, and also the donuts in the snow with the E-brake. I parked the car new year’s eve at worked and when I went to leave the car wouldn’t start. The diagnosis was a broken timing chain. That was enough to put me over the top and start the process of looking for a new car. Horary for technology!!! Ask a few friends on Facebook and poof, a new…or should I say, “used car but new to me car” was available. I went for a look and the car had been set aside for the last 6 months because a newer model was in the garage. It was a little neglected and ran rough, but I felt I could nurse her back to health. I went home and took inventory on everything that was wrong. I got a parts list which consisted of a Fuel pressure regulator, 18” piece of vacuum hose, new wiper blades, new light bulb and finally 4 new hubcaps. I spent an hour fixing the car, gave it a bath and back to life she came. The payment and pickup of the old car was yesterday which closes the chapter on that book, but a new chapter is ahead. I’m sad to see the old red car go to the Junk yard, but I’m thrilled to have a new reliable friend.