If things went according to plan, I wouldn't be here typing this right now. I'd be in an artist workshop, but it wasn't meant to be.
On my way home from work the engine began to overheat in our "good" car. I pulled over and peaked under the hood. The only thing I could think to do was check to make sure my oil change guy remembered to put oil back in. Yup. There's oil in there.
I called DH and told him to head out towards me. The car was still moving but I wasn't sure I'd make it the last 10 miles into town. With flashers on, I crawled home trying to keep the engine from overheating. About 3 miles from the Chevy dealer, the "Trac Off" light came on. Dear Lord please help me get to the dealer!
I met DH at the dealer and dropped the keys in the after hours box. It smelled really bad and DH had fears our car would start on fire and then burn the other cars on the lot. Don't worry, Dear. We have insurance. We never did hear fire engines and now we're just waiting for the phone to ring with the expensive news.
I am so grateful this happened when it did. If the car would have waited until this morning, I would have been 2 hours south doing 65 on the Tollway. Of it could have happened before I made it to work. Calling in would have been stressful.
As it turns out, I'm missing a day of homeschooling workshops, but I also woke up with a really bad sinsus headache. If the car wouldn't have broken down, I would have felt the pressure to suck it up, take 2 Advil and get my butt down to the homeschooling conference. My new plan is to rest up today, wait for the shocking quote to fix the car, and use our other unreliable vehicle to travel south tomorrow. One day of workshops is better than none.
Its times like these when I wish we were wealthy. I don't need to be stinking rich, just enough to cover the cost of this pending phone call. I foresee tears making an appearance today. If you've never cried over car repairs, you just don't get it. I know there are many others worse off then us. We still have the option of adding to our never ending debt.
Its only money right. My kids are alive. We're relatively healthy. Spring is coming. I have to focus on the blessings around me. Does the box of Thin Mints I got from my boss count? I wonder if they are chilled yet. I put them in the fridge this morning.
I better not consider that alternative and go find healthy inspiration. I think I do have english cucumbers that are already cold and a few grape tomatoes left. I'll be ok until the phone rings.
6 comments:
Yes, l have experienced tears like that. On a Friday the radiator of my car went, and then on Saturday, the motor of my washing machine burned out with a load of clothes still in water cause it wouldn't spin. That's when the tears came. So now l'm without a car and in need of a washer. Thank heavens for credit cards which l never used, but did then. Called someone, they delivered a new washer in 2 days and got my car back shortly. Got rides to work in the meantime.
Well, Deja vu! I just got off the phone with you telling me the exact same story.... minus the Thin Mints! Hope it is just a minor problem with a teeny tiny price tag!
Sorry about your car. It is good that you were able to make it to the dealer. Hope your repair is easy + cheap. Thin mints...yum!!! And mint is good for headaches + sinus. Have fun at workshops tomorrow.
Update: As of 4:30pm they still don't know why the engine overheated. They could see I was low on coolant because of the overheating last night, but couldn't make the car overheat today. He wants to keep the car through Monday and continue to "drive it" to see if they can find the problem. Why is Ferris Bueller's Day Off coming to mind?
LOL @ Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Hugs! I love my car, but hate the idea of repair bills. I put a heck of a lot into it this past year. Hope they figure out what went wrong and that repair costs are only minor.
Car problems suck, we have a Honda sitting on our driveway that needs $3,000.0 in repairs, a new tranny actually, trust me I know the feeling, hope it's not too bad.
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