Maxine is Dead

Last Tuesday the car broke down. Maxine, the name Mom gave her 1983 Datsun Nissan Maxima and gave to us when she moved back to Texas last year, finally died.

I've written here in the past about the problems we'd been having with the car. I'm reminded of a friend's comment that the least expensive car is the one you already own. I'm also reminded of the scene near the climax of "The Blues Brothers" movie when their car falls apart outside the downtown tax assessor's office.

(ASIDE: Among the many memorable quotes from the movie is this one from Elwood Blues -- "Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration, don't fail us now!")

Both Jennie and I knew that it was just a matter of time until the car broke down. I had hoped and prayed that it would happen mercifully. Here's what happened:

Last Tuesday, June 22nd, I drove Maxine to work. I made a turn and must have hit a "chuck-hole" (aka "pot hole") in the road because when I got to the parking lot, I had some trouble steering the car into the parking spot.

After my shift I returned to the car to inspect whatever damage there was. I saw that the front, driver's-side corner of the bumper had been bent to rub against the tire. I got on the ground and bent the bumper away from the wheel. Satisfied with that, I got in the car and started her up.

I put the car in gear and went forward (I had pulled into the parking spot in reverse earlier). I went a few inches and felt the car fall forward. I shut the engine off and went to inspect.

The front, driver's-side wheel had come off the axle! That corner of the car was being supported by the wheel.

At once I felt grateful to God that it happened in a parking lot instead of on the street or worse, a highway. I'm also glad that no one was hurt.

I returned to work, called Jennie, and walked home. A half hour later, I walked back to the car, with two empty backpacks and a shoulder bag. I got everything I wanted out of the car.

So it has sat for the past week at that same spot in the parking lot. Since it's a high-traffic area (drive-thru, etc.), a number of people have asked about it. Some have offered to tow it (that business card on the dashboard); others have offered to buy it or fix it.

Maxine is beyond repair. I almost feel like I'd have to pay someone else to take her off our hands (lol)! Yet if there is someone who wants to give us some money for her, then Amen!

Something else that's interesting... At the beginning of the month we had gotten 30-day temporary tags and some insurance for the car. We knew that it didn't have a chance in h*** of passing the emissions inspection. We had discovered that the only way to get out of an insurance policy is if the car would break down.

So, in general, we can see how God is blessing us. Our lives are more complicated (Jennie works 3rd shift, for example) by not having a car, but we're managing, for the meantime.