Words + Dreams

Besides scheduling time off and making sure the dogs are settled with friends, among a thousand other things, there was the matter of making sure the car was up to the trip. Road trips can always be magical, wondrous times to really get close to the family.  Sometimes too close.  What parent hasn’t heard, “Are we there yet?” over and over and over again?  Yet seeing the country by car is unlike seeing it any other way.  In a car you can stop when the mood strikes, eat whenever you get hungry, see cities close-up and probably travel in one of the least expensive ways (particularly if the family is large).  Well, least expensive if you don’t use much gas, make all your meals in the hotel room, and avoid most of the tourist traps. But does that sound like much fun?  Didn’t think so.  

First, the car  

I knew that a few things needed to be done.  For instance, I realized that I needed tires; the fan belts and hoses probably needed to be changed, and the car desperately needed a tune up and oil change.      

 It wasn’t that I was avoiding these things; it was simply that it was time for some of these now, and time was approaching for others.  And since time was approaching, I decided to do it all now rather than be forced to do it something in the middle of a trip.                                                                     

So, what did I do?  Nothing, actually. This time I had to be at work so Michelle took the car to the Nissan dealer, handed them the keys, and headed for the lounge.  Once or twice that morning she would call me with a question about what was recommended to her and I would suggest yes or no.  Eventually the car got finished and we still had a few dollars left. A few. 

We did (okay, the dealer did) the following things: 

 1. Inspection (naturally) 

 2. Oil change 

 3. Install new serpentine fan belt 

 4. Install four new tires (they had a sale- yea!) 

5. Tune-up and filters change

               As you can see, this was no small amount of work and the cost sure didn’t seem small. Personally, I’m glad we did everything.  I don’t want to even think about being out on the road in a hot western state in the middle of a scorching summer day and have the brakes go out / the radiator boil over / a fan belt break.  And I really don’t want to think about it when my kids are in the car.  I want the car to run, run well, and start every time I put in the key. I’m just funny that way.  When I was a kid I kept my cars running on wire, grease, and a prayer and I’m too old for that now.  

 The people at Nissan 

I am not a mechanic.  If you want to know how to write a sentence or a book, then see me.  But when it comes to cars I want a specialist. I want an expert when it concerns my health, and I want the same when it concerns my car’s health.

The people at the dealer are generally experts.  We were shown the problems, given choices as to the best ways to fix those problems, and given ways I could save money doing it.  And, best of all, at no time was I spoken to as anything but the most knowledgeable customer on earth.  Any place that treats their customers like they have a brain must be doing something right.  And everyone from the manager to the service advisor to the technicians were treating their customers well.                                                                                                                                                           

Now yes, the dealers are going through as many economic difficulties as the rest of us (or more) and yes, they do seem a bit quick to recommend things that might not be needed immediately (are you sure you don’t want new car mats?).  But compromises can always be struck that leaves everyone, if not giddy with happiness, at least not sobbing miserably.  

“On the road again, just can’t wait to get on the road again…” 

As you read this my family and I are (were) out on the road on vacation with me singing Willie Nelson’s banner song.  We’re having a safer, more secure vacation because of the checks we wrote to the dealer.  At least I’m telling myself that.  I am having more fun not worrying about the car.  One day when I quit sobbing, I’ll tell you all about the vacation. As for now, all I want to find is a swimming pool. 

                                                                                                                 Truthfully, I want to find a swimming pool, gas for 50 cents a gallon, a suite for less than 200 dollars, a four-star restaurant that welcomes kids who have been in a car for hours, and, well, I could go on but why?  We’ve all been there / are there / will be there soon.                                                                                    

Are you headed for a vacation or staycation? I hope you have a great one whether it’s in the South Pacific, the South Bronx, or on the south side of the house catching a few rays. Oh, and bring back souvenirs which will remind you of fun times you used to have.  Be safe.