Our car has been in the shop for a/c repairs, a job that was supposed to take 8 hours. I was given a loaner, an EcoSport, which is a nice ride if you’re not oversized and disabled, like me. Apparently, 8 hours equals 12 days in mechanic math!

I was told the guy working on it had a family emergency. Ok, I get it. I hope he and his family are ok. I was told they were getting another guy to come in to get it done. But still, 12 days?

I picked up our car yesterday. Boy, have I missed her! A 2009 Ford Focus, sometimes called The Blueberry. I can’t even describe the feeling of getting into that wonderful vehicle! Comfortable. Not too high, not too low. Comfy seat. Ample leg room. Now the a/c works, and the weather has cooled a bit. Better late than never.

Last summer, we suffered through the heat and humidity without a/c. Dad didn’t want to spend the money on it. I understand that completely, but there comes a point when you have to do something about it. That point was when Dad came home from the hospital after suffering heat stroke. I couldn’t take him out in the heat to his appointments. Now, we’re all set for Dad’s cardiologist appointment today.

The estimate for repairs was around $1200-$1300 plus tax. When they gave me the bill, I was pleased to see that they had discounted the total. With tax, it was just a little over $1000. Still more than I wanted to pay, but I’ll take it. The important thing is that we have our Blueberry back, and we can travel in comfort.

Now, the poor Blueberry needs a thorough and professional cleaning, inside and out. She has been severely neglected over the years. Maybe when it’s a little cooler, I’ll get out there and wash her. I’ll probably have to do it in parts. I’ll also need some super-duper industrial-strength soap!

This is not our car, but it’s the same make, model, and year. Ours used to be this clean and pretty.

Have a great day, friends.