Iowa

Iowa

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Feeling helpless

When I hear something that someone tells me and I am not sure I want to hear it, I do one of two things. I put my fingers in my ears and sing loudly or I totally tune them out. I went to my mechanic yesterday after work and as I walked in the door he looked sad and woeful. "It's not good," he said. "Not good at all." I asked if it was the timing chain. "No, and it's not the fuel pump." *fingers in ear, beginning to hum softly* "There is no compression in the cylinders." *humming getting louder*. "Don't know why, have a call into someone to see what it is." *singing now......"raindrops keep falling on my head"* He tells me he will call as soon as he hears back. I leave, singing at the top of my lungs, fingers in my ears. I CAN'T HEAR YOU. Fast forward to today. Cell phone rings and it is my mechanic. "Car needs to be towed to dealership." Tuning out, since cell phone is to ear and I can't put fingers in ears. I later find out from the dealer that the car is going to be very expensive. Alas, I dislike intensely the granny car I am driving. I like my little pretend sports car. So, I hung up on the dealer man without saying goodbye, waited 10 minutes, then called back and said "fix it". *sigh*.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

So, what was it? What was the problem. Take your fingers out of your ears and ask questions. Keep asking until you get the answer. And quit that awful singing, your cat is complaining.

Anonymous said...

I, too, love my car. Which is stupid because it is nothing more than a mode of transportation. And when there is a problem, I want to kick it. It shouldn't give me problems. I feed it gasoline, I wash it (well, I take it to the car wash), I talk to it and coax it in the snow. So, when it sputters or dies, I also feel helpless and can't even begin to describe it to the mechanic, who treats me like a kid, smiling and nodding his head. But I'll keep this one till if falls apart from old age because it was the first car I had that is red and sporty.

Anonymous said...

My greatest fear is getting into car trouble in the heat of summer or the cold of winter and the kids being in the car. We try to keep the car maintained, but one never knows. A tip...if you have AAA and you have kids or an elderly person in the car, they will make it a priority. And, check your car insurance, sometimes towing is included, although you then have to find the towing company and wait for them and I don't know if they have the same policy about children.

Anonymous said...

I can hear you singing now. I do the same thing. If I hear bad news, I only hear half of it. I sometimes think we should have tape recorders with us. I always think of questions later, and then feel like an idiot.

Anonymous said...

Actually, I thought my good friend Mia had her fingers in her ears today so she wouldn't have to hear my babbling. I had visions of Mia singing AND STRUMMING HER GUITAR. The real sports car will be back home soon and I am quite sure even better than new. This too shall pass. But wonder what it will be next?

Anonymous said...

If you need a ride anywhere let me know...I remember how much you liked riding on the Harley. I think my left hip is finally back in its socket after you torqued (spell?) it going around a corner!!

Anonymous said...

Mia on a Harley? This I have to see. My brother has a Harley, says it is the only true cycle, only I don't think he calls it a cycle. It's the least expensive model, it's all his wife would let him buy.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, Mia! On a bright note, I see that everything with your photography is going really well.

Stupid cars. We have pieces coming undone from underneath the van. That gives you a real sense of security flying down the highway. It is two years old! It is a van! Stupid cars. Hockey God says, "It looks like it's put together with styrofoam and duct tape under there." Neat. Fingers in ears here, too.