The Conclusion

 People like to say I’m stubborn. 

Okay, that’s a lie. They say I’m pigheaded and will cut off my nose just to spite my face. 

I won’t lie to you. That’s all true.

I’m writing this from my phone in a Lyft on my way to my night job, after I.

I dropped my car off at the mechanic. 

Let me explain.

I went to the shop after work to ask Alex about his opinion on my car. Was it worth it, cost/worth, value, etc. He said his professional opinion wouldn’t count, but his personal opinion was:

“Look at my 2001 Impala. I’ve had the transmission changed twice now. I’ve rebuilt the engine totally once. And she’s barely at 140,000 miles. Your transmission lasted 240,000 miles. Your engine has too. That’s all I’m going to say.”

But then he went on:

“I know you spoke to Mo [the owner’s son] about $2200. I went to him and redistributed the way the transmission would be rebuilt, to reduce the labor. It’s $1800.”

$1800? $1800! A transmission rebuild that cost three hundred more than my fucking timing belt?? That’s IT?

I could’ve kissed every single person in the shop.

I brought Dani down immediately, and managed to record the weird way she’s starting. Alex laughed and said that was actually a normal way, but he promised that he would recheck everything just to be safe. 

I believe him.

I put a down payment of $500 on the car. It’s usually half, but I asked about a payment plan, and Alex said the owner comes back on Tuesday, and so $500 would get them started but also see if there’s any wiggle room for me. No guarantees, of course. 

No guarantees needed.

I accepted his offer, put it down, and am going to work my tedious night job to pay for the love of my life. 

She’s a machine to everyone else. But she’s real to me.

This is Ecstatic Energy, signing off.