Well, as usual, Pops showed up to save the day. He grabbed a belt, drove the hour and some minutes up to anne's and changed the belt out. Wow, I'm continually thankful for my pops. So, we made to the beach and back with the dogs. We pulled into Anne's driveway and she said, "the clutch is going to the floor and I can't put the car in reverse."
"Let me call pops, will you talk to him?"
Having felt like she "wore out her welcome/ favors" she wasn't so excited to talk to dad. But, I told her if you are around my family, you're stuck with them for better or worse. So, once again we called pops, anne relayed the sorry state of the car.
"Hmmm, well, that would make it pretty difficult to drive. Do you need a car? You can come get the 240 at the house."
So, off to Charlotesville we went (1 hour and some minutes.... after the 7 hour drive back home). Pops greeted us with a smile. He said the famous words that can worry someone who knows him to death :
"Well, there's just a few things."
That, in common father / daughter language means.... there's a lot wrong, but it may turn out alright.
"The temperature gauge tends to jump around, don't worry about that unless it stays in the red zone for a prolonged period of time."
"And, oh, the 'check engine light' and 'abs' lights are always on, so don't worry about those, either."
"Bird, get in the car and turn on the lights, I want to see if they work."
So, that's what I did . Then, I heard dad slamming a back tail light with his fist.
Looking at anne, he said, "It (the light) will come on sooner or later. Usually after you go over a bump in the road, it will work just fine.... not too much to worry about."
I handed Anne the key to dad's 240 ... which looks like the best volvo ever, compared to mine, and we were off again. It's pretty funny to look out the door and see two 240s side by side..... it's not so funny when you say, "Man, my car really looks like a peice of shit next to dad."
Anne replys, "your car doesn't have to be next to pops to look like a peice of shit!"
And to think, she's still my friend.
She had to drive up to fairfax for a funeral on Friday. She had to call dad and ask, "Hey pops, can I take your care up to fairfax for a funeral?"
"Sure, it would be good for it (the 240) ! And have fun!"
I guess he missed the part about it being a funeral.
love you all
cheers
jenny bird