Since Monday last I've been without a car. After hitting a large pothole, my oil pan became disengaged from the car itself : Uh oh! Jack our Automotive Fixing Guy had it for the week, trying to cobble it back togther. No dice, apparently. So now it's gone to Another Auto Place (?) where they will "drop the motor" and put the thing back together for reals.
So, no car. We usually have an extra vehicle or so around, but at this point they are all motorcycles (3 of those) and one-ton flatbed trucks (generally in use by Ken's workers).
My extremely brief walks to and from work were a delight...except for the Thursday afternoon DOWNPOUR which lasted exactly as long as the walk home...sigh. But at least it was the walk HOME and not TO WORK. I was able to shed my sopping kit in the laundry room and get some good sympathy and a beer from my spouse right away.
I missed a meeting Monday night at church; missed Tuesday choir; missed a lunch with friends. No going nowhere. Ok, I can deal.
Also, I didn't get to Jazzercise at all during the week. Very annoying, just as I was getting into a really good groove, but there was all the walking. So, all right.
But what DID bother me:
was not being able to go to the library or to the grocery store. No running by to pick up milk or bread. No heading over after work to get the book I'd requested and replenish my supply.
It bothered me a lot. I count on ready access to those two places to feel secure and nourished. I'm not sure which one is more important to me, frankly.
This morning I got into the one-ton flatbed with the generator, water tank, shovel holder etc. on the back and chugged to the library. Then chugged to Kroger. I had LOTS of coupons and saved $24; this the result of manic grocery list planning in the week...
You should have seen me, parking in those parking lots in the work truck. And chugging down the road...goodness.
But I feel much much better. I have a large stack of new reading on the shelf; I have meals for the whole week planned.
Tomorrow I have to drive the flatbed to church. Chug chug chug down the highway. Don't get me wrong; I'm grateful and realize how lucky I am to have an alternate means of transportation at all!
And I've been to the library and the grocery.
