Does Everything Happen for a Reason?

So earlier today, I was supposed to go to the dentist at 9:30.  I worked from home to accommodate this.  So I'm in my car, running right on time (for one of the first times in my life, mind you).

All of a sudden, I hear an unusual, consistent noise.  It sounds like something may have gotten wrapped around one of my wheels or something.  I hope whatever it is can free itself.  As I continue on for a block, said noise continues.  I pull over to the side of the road, ironically right across the street from an auto-body shop.  I check the wheels.  I check underneath my car.  There's something long and silver, in the middle of my car's underbelly, that's dragging.  As you can tell, I'm a car expert, so I know the exact part.

So, I'm feeling pretty dumbfounded about what to do.  I know nothing about cars.  I don't have triple A.  Is it safe to drive a car with a metal part dragging?  I was guessing the answer to that is no.  It would appear someone would have to seriously get underneath the car or lift the car up to fix it.  Well, I'm a little nervous.  Since I have no idea what to do from here, I call the dentist to tell them I'm going to be late.  They tell me to do what I can, but they can't promise they can keep my appointment if I'm too late.  The least of my worries.

Anyhow.  I happen to be across the street from a car dealership with an auto-body repair shop attached.  Again, I wasn't sure what to do - could I safely drive my car back to my apt if I didn't want their service?  What were my choices?  I had no idea what to do.  I figured I'd go in and ask if they knew what was wrong with my car and start from there.  They seem to have already seen my troubles through the window and are mildly amused.  They know exactly what's wrong.  Something (they named it) became disconnected.  They could reconnect it for me.  What does it cost?  Don't worry about it.  So, 30 minutes later,  I was all fixed up.  I called the dentist.  Unfortunately, I lost my appointment, but I couldn't be too upset based on the kindness of strangers.  My dentist's office said he could take me at 2:30.  Since I was working from home, this worked.  Again, the whole circumstance was mildly inconvenient, but I couldn't be too upset because it obviously could have been much worse.

Now, this leads me to the question - why do random things like this happen?  Granted, this isn't cut from the same cloth of 'why do bad things happen to good people', but just plain why - what was the point of this?  I know many people would say there isn't any profound meaning to something like this (and that's usually where I am on things), but I know there are also people who believe everything happens for a reason and perhaps this car malfunction saved me from some impending car accident up ahead near the dentist's office or perhaps a car malfunction at a more inconvenient time in a dangerous neighborhood or something.  Your thoughts?  Do you believe things happen for a reason?

So it Snowed in Chicago....

Let me tell you, readers, miracles do exist - this was the state of my car when I first saw it since Tuesday.  I guess the wind blew in my favor, or a strange good samaritan helped out (unbeknownst to me).

someone lost his shoe (next to my car's shoe)

please note - it's a one way street - if you can get around the snow

another view

someone had the time and patience and inner warmth to have a little bit of fun in this

...and someone else gave up

the best way to enjoy snow...from inside

Tire(d).

So, I know this has been discussed before - but my car has a little 'history' behind it.  

He was on such a good streak....  I really thought we'd turned the proverbial corner.

However, in the past week and a half, it was hit back whilst being parked on the street.  There is damage.  Naturally, the damage occurred right next to pre-existing damage from a prior hit and run - good thing I never got that fixed.  I guess sometimes, we must be grateful for the little things.  

My friends Laura and Rachel both have had car issues in the past week.   I take comfort in the fact that these things happen in 3s....so we must be done.

Now comes the question - should I fix my car?  The small problem is he will just be set back out on the street.  Could this easily happen to him again?   Is it worth it to fix him?  Is this the same concept as loving again after being hurt?  Or cleaning up, when things just get dirty again?  

What should I do?  Your thoughts?  

Expressions I am Sick of....

Cash for clunkers.

I know it was a government program and not just an expression. I am sick of it, nonetheless.

P.S. Henry the Honda does not now, nor has he ever, qualified as a 'clunker'. Just sayin'.

Goodbyes are Hard....

It's so hard to say goodbye to an old friend.

As of later today, my first car will no longer be with my family. Chevy is a 1992 navy blue blazer (picture to come). He has really labored through his last couple years, what with the passenger door handle falling off and the driver's side door not opening, and the gas guage not working. He was my first car. I got in my first two accidents with him. I remember that fateful February day when I was one block from my high school and a man blew a stop sign and t-boned me. I spent the next half hour of my morning talking to the cops on the side of the rode as half of my classmates drove by, gawking at me out their windows. Sigh.

Anyhow, I digress. I will miss my friend of 17 years. I think he was resentful of me over the last couple years, after I got Henry the Honda, but I knew Marcia was taking good care of him. Alas, he was there for me nonetheless when Henry was on the fritz. Sigh. I'll miss you old buddy.

Go Cubs Go!

I will wholeheartedly admit it, I am your ultimate fairweather fan!  Actually, that's probably not completely true.  I have always been loyal to the cubs being my team, whether they won or lost.  I just didn't care all that much.  

However, I am sincerely, truly happy they are winning.  I come from a long line of northsider cub fans.  Go cubs go!  As long as my neighborhood doesn't riot and Henry doesn't get flipped over, I'll be happy.  

Moral Objection

So, as you know, I love having ads on my blog and I love, love, love it when my readers click them.  The ads come off the content from my posts.

Well, I posted about Henry (my Honda, the man in my life) and all of these ads came up like 'injured in an auto accident - you deserve cash!'   I DO NOT endorse these ads (or the idea that every time in life something bad happens to us there's a cash value reward we deserve - but that's a story for another day).  

I have a huge moral objection to these ambulance chasers - do NOT give them business.  Unless, of course, you are using one to sue another ambulance chaser directly - that kind of fighting fire with fire would be acceptable in my book.