My van has given me over six years of reliable service. It’s never gotten me into an accident. It’s never failed to start, even on days so improbably cold that it seemed like the very air would freeze solid in your lungs. It gets decent mileage and it’s much easier to drive than my old VW Vanagon. So I shouldn’t complain that I had to spend almost a thousand dollars on various maintenance repairs for the van earlier this week. It needed new tires, a new serpentine belt, and a bunch of work on the front brakes. Having to spend that much does sting a bit, but I should consider myself fortunate that this is the first time I’ve had to do any major repairs on this vehicle.
I recognize that I’m a little spoiled because so many people with disabilities have to rely on paratransit service to get from place to place. And while we have a fairly decent paratransit service here, I wouldn’t want to rely on it exclusively for my transportation needs. It’s nearly impossible to be spontaneous when you’re dependent on such a service. You can’t just decide to go to a friend’s house. Rides aren’t always available when you want them and even if you can somehow score a ride on short notice, there’s no guarantee it will arrive on time. I don’t mind shelling out some cash once in a while to preserve a little more independence for myself.
But this morning, the engine was not its usual purring self. It sounded more like a lawnmower. I wonder if the muffler is giving up the ghost.
*sigh*
And so it goes.
