Contemplating

Sunday last on the way home from church, the car developed a problem and died. I had just enough warning to pull off onto the shoulder and get out of traffic. We called Toyota for a tow, and they connected us with AAA. They knew exactly where we were located via cellphone and directed the truck to our exact location. I called my daughter for a ride home. She arrived before the tow truck and took Pam and I and my rollator aboard for the ride back to the condo building.

The tow truck appeared minutes later and took the car to my Toyota dealership.

I have never been stranded due to my car’s breakdown. Never in my full life at 82. That’s a good record but it caused me to think on this for many hours. The dealer contacted me Monday and spent hours diagnosing the problem and arriving at a suggested repair. I approved the plan and awaited notice that the car was ready for pick up. On Wednesday morning, it was ready. Pam took me to the dealer to reclaim the auto. The cost: $137 for towing; and $1071 for repairs.

Just prior to the breakdown, someone attempted to defraud my credit union account for the fifth time in 3 years. In that time I have had four new debit cards and an entirely new checking account to battle the fraudsters. So far, I have not lost a dime, but that’s due to the sharp eyes and defenses of my credit union. The only cost has been disruption and time to change all of my automatic pays based on the previous checking account and debit card authorizations.

At the same time, I had some issues with both my cellphone company and my internet/television Wi-Fi provider. Their solutions required me to do electronic transactions unfamiliar to me. A lot of hand holding and in-person visits were hastily arranged to implement solutions.

All of these ‘problems’ have been a challenge for me at 82. I’m not dumb, nor inexperienced in such matters. It’s just more complicated for me as I age. More topics to contemplate. Much more thinking on these matters.

As I learned to do without a car for a few days, I have learned to simply do without the potato chips, the cookies, or even the orange juice needing replacement. I have thought about graduating to Uber taxis and what that would entail. I’ve stared out the window at my green environment and appreciated the calm days of breezes, moving leaves and blue skies. I have maintained calm. Not patience. Just calm. There’s not much else to do at such times. I’m not sure I could have been so calm in years past, but now I have no choice.

July 7, 2025