I have to start by saying that people who know me know that I love my little car. It is one of my most prized possessions because it is the first car I ever bought brand new, and it has been very good to me. Yesterday, almost 4 1/2 years after I bought that wonderful, dependable car, it broke down.
I am sure you are asking yourself what the big deal is because cars break down all the time. Well, because everything with me has to be as dramatic as possible, my car broke down in the middle of an intersection without any warning. Oh wait, I did have a warning. My check engine light came on, and about 10 SECONDS later while I was on the phone with Brian, every warning light came on, and then it died. Right after my car died, the traffic light turned green and there I was, stuck. I closed my eyes to get my bearings and brace for what was coming next – the honking of very angry motorists in back of me that couldn’t go even though the light had turned green. Is there anything more humiliating than that? Well, maybe standing up out of the water on a beach and realizing that the waves have washed away your bathing suit is more humiliating, but this is pretty close.
Finally I came to my senses and realized that Brian was still on the phone, and he was telling me to calm down, turn my hazard lights on, and call AAA. I hung up the phone, said a little prayer, turned the key, and my car started, but every warning light came on, and I knew that I was not going to go very far. I was able to drive the car onto the shoulder and out of the way of traffic, then I called AAA. I waited there in my little car for about 45 minutes before the tow truck arrived with a very interesting driver. He had the most tattoos and piercings I had ever seen on anyone. He had a “hell’s angels” look about him, but when we got into the truck, he turned the radio on and out came romantic country songs. Totally was not what I was expecting. Finally, as I was starting to get comfortable and just enjoy the ride, a cicada flew in through the window and landed on me, and I went into complete hysterics until I was able to get it off me. When I looked up the driver said “they don’t bite you know.” I looked at him and said “I don’t care if they bite or not, I don’t like 2 inch bugs landing on me”. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we arrived at the car shop.
I dropped my car off and I gave them Brian’s number because car problem talk sounds like “blah, blah, blah, blah” to me, and it is all very expensive and I would not ask ALL the questions that Brian would ask. After everything was set, I started walking home. The day was so sunny and wonderful that I thought it would be a wonderful, healthy walk. Well, two minutes into it, I realized walking sucks, and every cicada in the universe was hanging out in Reston yesterday. They landed on me, flew by my face, I stepped on a couple, and I ran from others. I must’ve looked like a lunatic walking home. Anyway, 25 LONG minutes later, I was home.
My car was fixed in time to be picked up last night, and I was able to drive to work this morning like nothing had ever happened. Everything seems to be back to normal, but stay tuned. It is only Wednesday, and you never know what could happen in the life of a drama queen!
