I have a rule about my vehicle, it is meant to be driven. I am very attentive to getting maintenance done. I was told when I bought my vehicle I am required to have the oil changed every 8,000 kms to stay on some sort of warranty plan. Clearly, all I remember about that conversation was, "have your oil changed every 8,000 kms" and the rest was "blah, blah, blah". When it comes to my vehicle I am a check list person. Regular oil change and the other maintenance my service department suggests are usually made to keep it in the best working order. Regular tire changes in the spring and fall. Pretty basic stuff.
I just recently had my vehicle estimated for hail damage. I struggle with these types of appointments, but it was actually painless. I made the appointment online and gave all of my information over the phone. At 8:30 on said day, I arrive at the drive through at MPI. I am always relieved to see a drive through and I don't have to back up other than to get out of my parking spot. My adjustor comes out, introduces himself and begins to take a vast number of pictures inside and outside the vehicle. They have chairs by the wall, for the vehicle owners to sit on, somewhat like a "time out" chair, I assume to be out of the way of the adjustor. I got off my chair once and quickly realized I shouldn't have. The look of relief in my adjustor's eyes when I promised him, I would go right back to the chair and stay there until he was done, was evidence I should have stayed quietly on the chair. I sat on my hands and followed him going round and round my vehicle without saying a word. The results were in, and even though I was only in the hailstorm for about 2 minutes the damage totaled $2600. I have 2 years to get the repairs done. Well, this year's weather has been unpredictable to say the least, so I am waiting it out before I get it fixed. Another appointment I will put off and struggle to make.
The people watching was so much fun at the MPI. There was an older man ahead of me in a shiny white truck. He was first in line at the door when it opened. A man that worked there, told him he was really early, his appointment wasn't until 9:45. He had been there since 8:00. He tried to convince the man that he was told his appointment was at 8:00, the guy wasn't having it and replied by saying that the doors don't even open until 8:30. The white truck guy was just going to wait it out, hoping to get in before his allotted time. What could he possibly have to do that he needed to get done earlier than his appointed time? Then there was the guy in the shiny black sports car. Clearly, this car was more important to him than life itself. I couldn't see a mark but there was obviously an issue because this guy was overcome with concern. I witnessed him rubbing his car with encouragement as the adjustor was making his assessment. The sports car guy was struggling to follow the sit on the chair rule. His damage was minimal and he seemed relieved as he drove away.
From my time out chair it became evident to me, I was in survival mode. I had showed up with my vehicle as it was when I parked it in the garage the night before when I got home from Saskatchewan. I had thought of washing my vehicle, but I didn't, the areas with hail damage were cleanish. It was evident by the grill that I had done my very best to decrease the grasshopper population in Saskatchewan. I am sure the guy with the shiny black car thought I should be charged with vehicle abuse. My adjustor seemed to be managing very nicely to do his job, and when I apologized for it not being cleaned, from my chair, he said it was fine. Nice guy!
Lastly, the woman with the family car pulls in. She took the prize for the most hail damage. The hood of her car looked like she had parked her car in the field at batting practice. She was relieved she had 2 years to make repairs. I hope the poor dear gets it done before that, it looked really bad.
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| This is me from time to time. |
I have to say that when you spend 80 hours in 6 weeks in your car, it gives you a chance to do lots of reflection. I come up with the greatest ideas and plans when I drive. The trouble with that is that you're driving you're not writing them down. So, what may seem like a brilliant idea may not happen until it pops into your head again. Some people I understand listen to audio books. I think that is a great utilization of your time, but I have never done that and pretty sure I won't ever. I love to look at license plates to see where people are from. I crop watch and I've been able to watch the progress in Manitoba on my frequent trips to Saskatchewan. As the summer went on, it has became evident that there is a severe drought going on. The poor pastures aren't even growing a green weed.
I just met a couple that had driven from Toronto to Manitoba. He is 84 and she is 85. They make the drive every summer. They used to make it in two days but they have now extended it to 5 days to drive from downtown Toronto to southern Manitoba. That is just amazing to have the confidence at that age to drive that distance.
I take it for granted that I can just jump in your vehicle and go wherever I want whenever I want. I am grateful to have a vehicle that I can rely on and I possess the confidence to just take off. I have to remind myself, not everyone has that same privilege. Owning a vehicle and driving wherever you want is something that not everyone can do. It is the simple things in life, like being able to drive that we just take for granted. I have come to look at the time I spent driving a vehicle as time well spent. If I don't have a positive outlook on a trip it makes the miles so much longer and who needs that. Driving is my version of exploring the world, what is your way of exploring the world?
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