I’ve had one full day to mull over the train wreck that was this past Saturday. And the only logical way I can see explaining the events is by first listing a few facts.
Facts
- I’ve been trying to stay afloat financially, since I’ve been waiting for several weeks for my four separate student loans to get consolidated, thus lowering the four individual payments (total=$212) into one lump payment of somewhere around $50.
- I’ve always had a heart for the homeless and those in need, especially after all the things that our Sunday School class has been doing.
- It snowed and snowed and snowed on Wednesday night, Thursday, and all day Friday, dropping a few inches of snow and ice onto Western Kentucky.
- A light on my dashboard kept popping up. I bought my car (used) in July.
- Mine and Keisha’s cell phones were both eligible for upgrades.
- We got a grant that let us pay off all our credit card debt, which happened on Thursday.
Now that the facts are out there, I hope this may make more sense. Though I don’t believe in luck, I have bad luck. And, as Keisha said Saturday night lying in bed, the world took a big crap on me that day.
Saturday
Keisha has to take her Praxis Saturday morning. Since the roads are still snowy/icy, I’ll drive her over to the test site. While I’m out on the town at 7:30 am, I need to stop by the grocery store and pick up a few things. Cinnamon, Bread, Doritos, Keisha’s birthday present. Check, check, check, and check.
Next up I think I’ll head on over to the Toyota dealer and let them check out this light that keeps coming on, since that’s what the manual recommends. “Sir, it’s going to cost you $55 to run the diagnostic test on your car to see what’s the problem,” says the very nice Nichole. “That’s okay,” I answered, figuring as much. “You can wait in the lounge. There’s coffee and a cappuccino machine.” So I fix my beverage of choice, plop down at a chair and pull out Boneshaker. (Always, always have a book with you. That’s a word of strong advice.)
The minutes and pages pass and Nichole returns. “I noticed that you needed an oil change around 300 miles ago. We can do it here with the actual Toyota oil that goes in and we’ll get it winterized, too.” “How much?” “$33.” Knowing that I need this done anyway, I give the go ahead.
More minutes more pages later and back comes Nichole. “The test is giving an error code for your car that’s somewhat common (not too common, but not too uncommon, either). Blah blah blah. Your computer is dying and needs replacing. Blah blah blah. $750.” That’s when a sinking, sick feeling connected. I explain how I just bought the car a few months ago and it may be under some kind of extended warranty. I say I’ll call and check and get back with her on whether or not to order the part.
A phone call later and the gut feeling is worse. No extended warranty after 90k miles. I’m at 107k. Nichole has more good news. Thankfully she was kind and understanding about my plight. “While doing the oil inspection we noticed that your tires are getting pretty bald. Blah blah blah. $510 or $380.” Aha, I have a secret weapon here. “My uncle is a manager at a tire store and I can get my tires there, much cheaper. And go ahead and order that part. I’ll apply for 90 days same as cash.”
So I leave the dealer and decide that the local bookstore will make me feel better. I get there and call my Uncle Brian, who happens to be a bit sick. I tell him all about the stuff and he says that he can probably order part and put it in at a much cheaper cost, in addition to the tires. So I drive back to the dealer, pay for the diagnostic test and oil change, and tell Nichole to hold off on the computer purchase. A little happier, I head to the bookstore.
Within two minutes of entering the store, a man approaches me and begins talking. He’s wearing a ragged looking jacket with his hood up. “I’m stranded here. I broke down last night in Evansville, got a ride from Henderson to here, and now I’m waiting on my momma to come pick me up from Louisville. If you can give me $14 I can have some place to stay until Tuesday.”
Here it is. After discovering that I’m going to be out a wad of cash I get approached by a stranger asking for more money. How…fitting. “I don’t have any cash on me, but if you want to ride with me to the ATM I can get some.” On our way to the ATM I explain how I’d love to be able to give him more, but I just found out about my car problems. He understands. At the ATM he tells me that for $54 he can hop a bus that will take him back to Louisville. I tell him I can’t do that, but I give him $30 and ask if there’s somewhere he’d like me to take him. His name is Sean.
We drive down the street and we talk for a bit. Eventually he asks if I think Wal-Mart would have any shoes. Heartbroken, afflicted, upset, worried, confused, but eager, I say yes. We go to Wal-Mart and he picks out two pair of shoes. Unfortunately, the shoes aren’t the price he tells me, and I tell him that I can’t get both of them. They’re going on credit, after all. So he picks out one pair and we leave. I tell him I want to get him lunch and then I have to go pick up Keisha from her test.
We drive to McDonalds. He asks for two Big Macs. I want a Diet Coke. I ask him if he has a Bible, he says no, and I give him one of mine. (I always try to keep Bibles in the car to give to someone, just in case.) Sean asks me to drop him off at Subway and he’ll go in and eat his Big Macs and read his Bible. I tell him I’ll pray for him. He asks me to pray for him there in the car, so I do, and then he leaves.
I drive and pick up Keisha. I tell her how I spent two hours and $80 with a stranger. I tell her about my car. I tell her I’m hungry and want to go to Arby’s. While there, we’re eating and Sean walks in with another man. I’m not sure if he sees me, but I don’t say or do anything. My mind is too exhausted.
We leave and go to AT&T to get Keisha a new phone and to look at one for me. The one I want is $179 new at the store, $99 new online, and $0 refurbished online. I say I’ll get mine on the internet. Keisha gets her a $0 phone at the store. She’s happy, I’m happy, and we head home. I hop on the computer to order my free refurbished one and discover that it’s no longer available. Again, the world dumps a load on me. I resign myself to having a bad day and a case of misfortune.
Afterwards
I guess I should mention that Saturday night was poker night. I knew there was no way I was going to do any good, but I went any way. With a day like Saturday I stood no chance. There were 21 guys from church, each with a $5 buy-in, but I went out early. Heck, on my last hand I went All In with pocket kings, but I didn’t get anything on the subsequent cards to help me. Oh well, it was fun.
Saturday’s also taught me a bit about trusting in God. Financially I tithe, and of my time I tithe, but still I have some small worries about money. Deep down, I know that God will provide and take care of everything, but it’s still a bit disheartening to know that credit card debt was erased and replaced two days later. It’s disheartening to have a relatively new car that’s having these kinds of problems. It’s disheartening that there are people trying to live and survive in this world and most people turn them away. The world’s a crazy place, filled with both beauty and vile. I do what I can to make it a bit more shiny, even if I have bad days.
