As much as I love kittehs, no amount would’ve prepared me for the whirlwind I went through yesterday…
I decided not to go into work because A) I didn’t have a car, B) I was so stressed I think I caused an earthquake near Chicago, and C) I wasn’t quite coherent enough to concentrate. Thankfully, Boyfriend decided to take the day off too and come over to cuddle and help me deal. Around 11am, I felt much better because I realized things were going to be okay. I would find out what was wrong with my car in a few hours.
35 minutes later…
Mechanic: “You’re engine is shot.”
Me: “Wait… what?”
Mechanic: “You’re going to need a new engine and it’ll cost $3000.”
The car is only worth about $2000 at best. Putting $3000 wasn’t an option, especially since I put in at least another $1500 to begin with for maintenance and repairs when I first purchased the vehicle.
I looked at Boyfriend and bawled…
He looks like he's in pain... It hurts me to look at this...
I decided to call Mom (since Dad was busy) and asked her what to do. Do I sink another $3000 or try to find another car?
Mom: “Find another car.”
Boyfriend and I felt confident that we needed to junk the car. After a shower, a meal, and a drive to the mechanic, we junked the car. Thankfully, the mechanic handled everything.
Next, I purchased a bus pass because I didn’t have any other way to work. On the way home, I started crying again.
When I first moved here, I rode the bus back and forth because I didn’t have any other means of transportation. It wasn’t horrible, but it made things rough. Then, I bought my car. I felt so much better not having to wait in the cold, in the heat, in any weather whatsoever wasting my time until the bus came. I didn’t have to stay after work or take long ass bus rides when I lived four miles from home. I had a vehicle to help me.
Now, I felt like I was going backwards. I was limited on finding new employment because it’d have to be on the bus line; I would have to rely on Boyfriend for rides to the grocery store, to his house, to therapy; and I lost all sorts of time again in my day (I usually wasted 2 and a half hours a day riding the bus).
So, Boyfriend said, “Let’s go look at cars.”
"You wanna do what?"
Boyfriend always talked about having a second car because his primary car is a sports car that is getting a little old. It doesn’t necessary handle well when winter decides to shit out snow storm after snow storm. So, we decided to go look.
After a few lots, we ended up at CarMax, but we didn’t figure we’d find anything since most of the cars on the lot were $10K and over. Then, we found Ruby…
Ruby is a burgundy 2006 Hyundai Elantra. And she was worth the price, which was below the average $10K.
Next, we spoke with Ashley, a wonderful CarMax consultant and laid out what kind of inspection the car goes through, let us know all the return policies, all the things covered in the first 30 days, the 5-day return policy, and the MaxCare benefits (which basically helps if there’s another $3000 engine job in our future; let’s hope fucking not!).
Although the situation wasn’t exactly what Boyfriend and I initially wanted, we decided to go with it. Boyfriend owns Ruby, but he’s allowing me to drive it. I will help with insurance, maintenance, and obviously gas. As soon as I find a better job (which will be damned soon), I can even help with payments or assist in a few others way. The situation isn’t perfect, but we’re rolling with it.
I don’t love Boyfriend more for buying me a car. I love him more because he helped me in a serious crisis where I was having problems with my identity. For a lot of people, they will most likely see it as him being a sugar daddy or him being stupid for “buying me a car.” I see it as a beautiful, loving man helping his partner in a time of need. If the situation was reversed, I would do the same for him.
Thank you, Boyfriend. I hope you know how much this really means to me.
As for Ryan (my previous car)…
May you rest in peace...
