Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Being alone

I got a good taste of being alone yesterday,, I went to my first PD exercise class (there's another story) and when I walked out to my car I was feeling virtuous.

You may or may not know I have one of those fancy cars that doesn't have a key. Instead I have a gizmo that I carry in my purse and the car has a button I push to start the car, except that button doesn't work when the gizmo has a dead battery; which is the conclusion I came to after a few moments of panic.

The church office was open and the minister and office manager were there. I explained my problem and asked if there was a taxi service in town; there is one who will come to the island from Naples ($$$$) and since no one in the church office offered to run me home to pick up spare, this adventure was going to cost me about what I put in the offering on a Sunday, at least.

Back in my car waiting for the cab I called my dealer in Kankakee who said I could mail it and they would put new battery in but it would be cheaper for me to take it to the lccal dealer. Nothing about this adventure was going to be cheap; the dealer is in North Naples thru heavy traffic and I would not want to have to make that trip if I dould avoid it.

To share my misery I called my brother who suggested that I try to open gizmo and see what kind of battery it is and I might be able to get it at Walgreens, So when taxi arrived we went to Walgreens, found a battery that looked right and went back to my impotent car; the idea was brilient but i didn't have the tools or steady hands to get the old battery out or the new one in.

Reluctantly I rold the driver to tke me to my home and I would pick up the spare. Which we did then went back to the island and the church and the dead car. The spare worked, the cab driver tab and tip came to $45 and I went home, took out the old battery, put in the new and it worked!

A jumble of feelings; pride that I managed the situation on my own; frustration with the church I consider my Florida church (I've been attending for 3 years); good fortune that I could afford that cab ride.

Another good suggesstion from the bro; carry a spare battery in the car. My recommendation? Don't buy a car that starts with a button or depend on the kindness of strangers.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

oh my...sounds miserable, but ended with results that were not too harsh. Very disappointing about your church members.....perhaps they sensed you wanted to handle it. Glad it all worked out and you did not go without wheels long!