Cars..
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My car is back in the shop today - getting a 'major' service and a new set of front brakes.
It's only a month or so ago that it broke down on us.
On that occasion, the timing belt gave up - causing a whole host of other problems ($1500 worth).
It took the super efficient (NOT!) PEP Boys place a full week to repair it.
Even then, they forgot to hook up the fuse to the horn and, apparently, check the brakes (which are illegal and more to the point, down-right dangerous!).
All was well until a week later, Tim's car came to a complete stop too!
It wasn't even worth getting it looked at (it is a complete heap!).
It is still parked up on the driveway, dripping oil, awaiting it's fate at the hands of a 'tow-in trade-in' deal, or charitable donation!
The point of this being that, at this moment in time, I am carless...and it feels like I am missing an appendage.
If this had happened, where I used to live in England, I would have walked to pick up my kids from school, picked up dinner from the village butcher and greengrocer and had the service guys deliver the car back to me, when it was done.
How different life is now I live in Big City USA.
I actually COULD walk to pick up my kids - it's probably only about 1-1.5 miles (and it's not too hot to be out, in December). The grocery store is probably another 0.75 miles from there - but walking?...lugging back groceries?
...NO THANK YOU!
How soon we adapt to, and come to expect, the comforts and conveniences, of life - sometimes to our own detriment.
...The automatic garage door opener - no need to get out of your car (or meet your neighbours).
...The credit card gas pump - which can also be set to fill 'hands-free' (allowing plenty of time to eat a chocolate bar, whilst you wait..sitting down)
...The grocery store, who's staff empty your cart and bag your groceries and will even put them in your car (at least it provides work for the baggers, I suppose)
I was once a big walker/hiker, it was what I did for fun.
Now I am a very lazy, automobile-reliant person, without a reliable automobile - hope they will fix it soon!
I'll share some of those walking memories sometime - like the walk that ended with a big surprise.
It's only a month or so ago that it broke down on us.
On that occasion, the timing belt gave up - causing a whole host of other problems ($1500 worth).
It took the super efficient (NOT!) PEP Boys place a full week to repair it.
Even then, they forgot to hook up the fuse to the horn and, apparently, check the brakes (which are illegal and more to the point, down-right dangerous!).
All was well until a week later, Tim's car came to a complete stop too!
It wasn't even worth getting it looked at (it is a complete heap!).
It is still parked up on the driveway, dripping oil, awaiting it's fate at the hands of a 'tow-in trade-in' deal, or charitable donation!
The point of this being that, at this moment in time, I am carless...and it feels like I am missing an appendage.
If this had happened, where I used to live in England, I would have walked to pick up my kids from school, picked up dinner from the village butcher and greengrocer and had the service guys deliver the car back to me, when it was done.
How different life is now I live in Big City USA.
I actually COULD walk to pick up my kids - it's probably only about 1-1.5 miles (and it's not too hot to be out, in December). The grocery store is probably another 0.75 miles from there - but walking?...lugging back groceries?
...NO THANK YOU!
How soon we adapt to, and come to expect, the comforts and conveniences, of life - sometimes to our own detriment.
...The automatic garage door opener - no need to get out of your car (or meet your neighbours).
...The credit card gas pump - which can also be set to fill 'hands-free' (allowing plenty of time to eat a chocolate bar, whilst you wait..sitting down)
...The grocery store, who's staff empty your cart and bag your groceries and will even put them in your car (at least it provides work for the baggers, I suppose)
I was once a big walker/hiker, it was what I did for fun.
Now I am a very lazy, automobile-reliant person, without a reliable automobile - hope they will fix it soon!
I'll share some of those walking memories sometime - like the walk that ended with a big surprise.
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