Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The Picture of Kindness

Yesterday morning, I was so delighted to head out of Kearney, Nebraska. It was just a little above 10 degrees, but the sun was shining, the wind had died down, and it looked like smooth sailing home. I got two miles down the road and the car started acting weird, the "check engine" light came on, and I knew I had to pull over immediately. Amazingly enough, there happened to be a rest area on my right, and I pulled into it.

The last time I had a car break down on an interstate highway, it was 20 years ago, and I had to get out of the car and start walking to the next town because I did not have a cellular phone. There was no such thing back then! Yesterday, I sat in my car, looked up the number of my warranty company in my daytimer, called them and let them refer me to a local auto repair shop, who referred me to a towing company... etc. I went inside the rest area when I started shivering because it was COLD.

The caretaker of the rest area asked me if I needed a place to sit down and got me a chair (in the photo above). I was able to sit in the sunshine and wait for the tow truck. I was astounded by the kindness of such a simple gesture.

It is amazing to me how very different it is to be in a small town in Nebraska dealing with a tow truck driver, a mechanic, a rest area man, etc. I really feel that my car could not have broken down in a better place.

This is the second time since July that my car has needed to be towed away. I am nearing $2,000. put into the car in the last 3 months.... a not even 5 year old car with 60,000 miles on it. I think it is time to face the fact that it is a money pit and I need a new car. It was my dream car. I always wanted a Volkswagen Passat. So, in 2005, I bought a new one, and planned on just driving it until I was an old lady. I reasoned the car would last far past 100,000 miles. I think I reasoned falsely. The very nice mechanic in Kearney Nebraska agreed that it would be a good idea to get rid of the car. Darn it.

So, the trip took longer than expected. It took a LOT more money than expected. AND I didn't even go to the funeral.

But the sweetest feeling in the world is to walk back into my home after an absence. When I say "home" I don't mean just my little 1533 square feet of it, but I mean my State, my rolling plains, my mountains, my city, my suburbs, and the lovely feeling of my ears popping as I headed back up into the foothills. But the best of all is to lay my head on my own pillow and sleep. Which I am going to do a lot of today.

I like to think there is a reason for everything. I don't know what the reason for this ill-fated trip was. It seems I was not meant to be there. I know I didn't charge off all full of self-will, but it became apparent on the second day that I could not continue. I don't know.

I am grateful to be home. I know that.

10 comments:

Lou said...

Cars can be such a nuisance.

Glad you are home!

Scott W said...

There is nothing like my pillow on my bed to make things right.

Anonymous said...

Glad you are home safe and sound. I love your gratitude when your car broke down. You were able to find a silver lining in what could have been a big,dark, scary drama filled cloud!

dAAve said...

Glad you made it home OK.
Maybe you can buy a used Toyota real cheap right now.

Annsterw said...

Glad you are home safe!

Ed G. said...

The difference between a "journey" and a "trip" is, well, I guess you know.

Glad you're safe. I believe it will all make good sense some day - in this lifetime or the next or maybe the one after that.

Blessings and aloha...

Anonymous said...

HOME SWEET HOME! (sigh)

Syd said...

I'm glad that there were kind people to help you. My experience with Volkswagen was negative. So far I have been very happy with what I drive now.

Mike Golch said...

we have been very luck with our cars that we had int the past.as they got close to 100,000 miles they started to nickle and dime us.but we feel we got our moneys worth out of them.I'm glad that you had so many helpful people when you needed them.

Unknown said...

Acceptance bring serenity for me. I don't have to figure it out anymore. That was a giant step for me. Glad you are where you are meant to be.

namaste