Acting Without the Drama

October 14, 2009.  As a continuation of yesterday’s theme, this morning the car wouldn’t start.

Tragedy.

We had to rearrange school carpools last minute, which worked, so no huge deal.  However, we definitely rely on that car, so not having it working didn’t feel like an option.

So, we’re out there trying to get it jumped, and it’s not working.  And not working.  And still not working.  It’s looking like maybe it’s the alternator.  Yikes!

Then, out of the blue, the engine starts.  Hallelujah!  We’re saved!  It’s a miracle!

We let it run for a bit, but the gas is low, so we have to turn it off after a while.  We test it immediately to make sure it’s still working.  It is.  No problem.

Until my wife got in the car to take my daughter to preschool.  No start.  No go.  No how.

Having had something miraculous happen and then feeling like it was “taken back” was a bit much.  But still there was that voice in my head whispering, “I’m not sure that this is a big deal.  Really.”

Silly voice.  The car is a BIG DEAL (once more, you can tell that it’s a big deal from the caps)!

Thankfully, I was working from home today due to the beautiful rain and resultant horrific traffic, so I ran her over in the other car.  When I got back, I started the car-jumping process all over again.  We spent close to an hour with no luck.  We “used up” our miracle, and now our lives were over.  But there goes the voice again, “I’m not sure that your life is over.  Try it again.”

Crazy voice.  It hadn’t worked so far.  But, what was it going to hurt, I guess.

So we did it again.  And it worked.  The car started and we managed to get to the shop, me following my wife there just in case.  We managed to fill up the gas tank and still get it restarted without a jump.  We arrived at the shop.  We left it there, sure that our wallets would be emptied out in short order.  I mean, it had to be something serious, right?  Again, the voice, “Ummmm… I don’t think so.”

All right, that’s it!  Maybe the voice was right two out of the three times, but obviously this problem was not going to fall so neatly into the non-epic category.

Or maybe it was.

We needed a new battery.

That’s it.

No alternator.

No starter.

No electrical overhaul.

Just a battery.

I’m really happy about the results of today’s happenings, but there are definitely a few nonplussed kids inside that were sure that Ragnarok was eminent.  They’re feeling a bit… ah, flummoxed about how things turned out.

Which is awesome.  They were present for a perfect example of how things don’t have to be epic.  Because even if the car situation had been worst-case scenario, we would’ve worked it out.  We always do.  As of yet, Ragnarok hasn’t happened.

To show them that, to let them know that everything’s going to be okay, was pretty spectacular.

We’re supremely blessed, and I want them to know it.

And today was a miracle… and every once in a while, they happen twice when you need them too. 

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