Rain and cars

Here in the Chicagoland area (I love that term!), we got some vicious rain last weekend. Flooding, downpours, monsoon conditions... I felt like I was living in that Ray Bradbury short story that you probably read in high school -- "All Summer in a Day" -- where there's a pioneer settlement on Venus, where it's always raining except for one day every seven years.

We don't have a garage, so my little Golf sat out in the Bradburian rain, and after a day and a half, the engine wouldn't turn over. This happened once before, last year, after a big rain, so I didn't think too much about it. (And a side benefit of being married is being able to borrow your partner's car or have him chauffeur you around.) But then, a day or two later, my car engine still wouldn't turn over. Then another day, and it DID turn over, but I couldn't get the car to snap into gear and MOVE. I've been warned that my transmission's days are limited. I finally called AAA today, and began to say goodbye to my little car.

My sweet little car. I bought it in Massachusetts eight years ago, during my stint at the Monterey United Church of Christ. It rolled over the Berkshire hills with me, went back and forth to Chicago a couple times, then brought me back there for good, rolled around the city, went on many roadtrips, sat idle for much of seminary, and has been shuttling me around the western suburbs for almost a year now. Now it's a mess, but it feels like a second pet. Or my alter ego. Adam's mom had offered to sell us their 2004 Civic if we wanted it, but it just doesn't seem the same as my spunky, dark blue hatchback. Sigh. Much melancholy and resignation. And if she's not ready to sell it, then how on earth will I decide what kind of new car to get? As if I don't have enough to think about already.

Of course, when the tow truck guy showed up, he gave the ignition a try, messed with the pedals, and it started.

So I don't have to buy a new car for a while again after all. But at least it got me thinking, so when ol' Gertie does heave her last ho, maybe we'll have some idea what the game plan is. Although I still don't think I'll be ready to say goodbye.