Started at 7 a.m. at my mechanic. Normally, the
process with this old car (’01 Saturn) is that I go in, they fiddle with the computer
and stuff and turn off my Service Engine Light (the ABS light is always on but
that doesn’t affect the smog check), then I drive for 20 miles to re-set the
computer, and then I get to the smog check, and I pass. Later that day, the
Service Engine Soon light comes back on.
However, this time, I did the 20-mile drive and when I
went through the smog check, it wouldn’t pass and I lost $14 on the failure.
Back to the mechanic. More fiddling – and, before I did some more 20-mile
driving, I realized I needed gas. After gassing up (could only afford $10 but
it would be enough), I turned the car back on, and the Service Engine Soon
light came back on. Back to the mechanic. More fiddling. Often, we have felt
that it was a loose gas cap causing the sensor light to go on – this is a very
common problem. We decided I should get a new gas cap for less than $20 and
maybe fix the issue once and for all. Off I go to the GMC dealership (the gas
cap isn’t a common one from a parts store), and $20 later, I’m at the mechanic.
They attach it, do more fiddling and off I go for another 20-mile drive.
This
time I decide to make that drive worth the trip so I head to my eye doctor to
pick up my new post-cataract surgery prescription freebie glasses. The optician
was out today, not a normal happening. It took a while for them to find my
glasses. When I got back in the car, the sensor light came back on. Back to the
mechanic. More fiddling. We decide this time to just take a chance and head
right to the smog check guy. Failed again. Another $14.
At this point, I realize
it is a deeper problem than what we have been dealing with the past few years
and I will need my guy to really do a thorough job on it. So, I will be at our
motor vehicles office before they open tomorrow morning so I can be one of the
first in line to get my 10-day extension (tomorrow is my deadline).
I made a quick stop at a supermarket for a friend who
is having trouble now getting to a store. I had promised yesterday to pick
something up for her today, the last day of a sale. I ran into that store and
found it was out of stock. Luckily, it was something they were willing to give
me a rain check for.
Then, Thursday, I will be at my mechanic’s when that
place opens and try this again.
I pray with all my heart that it is an easy and
inexpensive fix.
Okay – so where does this leave me at the end of the
day? Well, thankfully, the Lord got me through all of it with a sense of humor
and lots of patience and great guys (my mechanic didn’t charge me anything).
And, I have my new glasses. And, I have a rain check that’s good for a month for my friend. And, I have a new gas
cap. And, we now know what is NOT wrong with the car. Plus, I have some gas in
it, and I will still be okay getting the extension tomorrow. So, all in all, I
survived.
Father, thank you for all the patience and faith I
needed today, every step of the very crooked way. Yes, I was running around
from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with all of this, but in the end I am not that bad
off and still have hope. Please stay with me and give me all the strength,
faith and patience I need over the next few days. And bless those who helped me
today.
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