After a roller-coaster of continual rejections from financing sources, including one the same day, my friend got a call from the dealership she wanted a car from saying that she was approved for financing.

I'm outstandingly happy.

It was tough because she's only been here for a while, and has no established credit history in the country, and her international history doesn't seem to apply in the US. Seems the global economy works good for taking money from you, but not really getting it to you, unless you're a big international company.

It's her first car ever, and where I am, you pretty much can't survive without one.

Without a vehicle, you're at the mercy of getting rides from friends, and I think that's especially rough for someone trying to establish a life on their own, and a little freedom with it.

It was really getting her down. And I can understand fully.

It's hard to feel independant when someone has to shuttle you around, and I think with that can come a certain lack of security and comfort.

And while I'm completely happy to be able to drive every chance I possibly can and help her out, I'm sure there's plenty of times when she'd like to be doing stuff without my intrusive overbearingness.

Late last year we started with driving practice, through driver's licenses and a minor fender bender, to car shopping, and now financing, and hopefully soon purchasing and delivery of a new car. It's been so good for me to be able to just help someone who really needed it and deserved it out, and I can see all the work on her part coming to a successful conclusion soon.

I'll be a bit sad when I eventually lose my carpool partner and conversation companion in the mornings, but more happy that she can zip around and see the city on her own terms, whenever she feels like it. I hope she'll feel more independant, settled and at home, instead of just as someone who's temporarily passing through as a visitor at the mercy of the city.

Like I said, it's been probably better for my disposition than any benefit she really got out of using my car. I think I totally made out like a bandit in the deal, just because of the good friendship she provides.

Definately the kind of thing that makes your weekend.