Oh... my... goodness...
For the second time in my life, I had my car just stop in the middle of the road. The first time was in Connecticut about five years ago. I had a 1993 Ford Taurus that I had bought for just 700 dollars. I was going to Three Rivers Community College, lived with my dad, and had a 'job' as a pianist in his Latin jazz band... pretty cool for a 17 going on 18 year old fresh out of college.
I had just come back from a piano lesson in Norwalk and was going back to New London which was approximately an hour. Half way into my trek back home, my car started to slow down. I pulled over into the side line and turned my lights on alerting everybody that my car was acting up. Apparently, I had so many things on my mind that I hadn't put gas in my car and completely overlooked the fact that the needle was on the red 'E'.
I was hysterical, trying to start my car up and banging my head against the steering wheel when the engine would start but just fizzle out seconds later. Suddenly it hit me, I'd call my dad. I had misgivings about calling the police in a state that I was completely new to. I talked to my father, on the verge of tears. He was a bit pissed because I was expecting him to drive an hour to help me get gas--earlier that month, I had locked my keys in my car while on campus and again I called him. Later on, he pulled me aside and asked me what I'd do in the same situation and I couldn't call him or my mom. I just shrugged and didn't think that would happen... but oh how wrong I was.
Fast forward to Tuesday December 7th, 2010. My car, a 1997 Chrysler Concorde LX that I had bought with my own money and was just a tad bit more expensive than the Ford Taurus. The previous owner was a professor at the University of Iowa and had installed a 6-CD changer in the back. The windows and locks were automatic and it was a pretty big car.
It broke down on my way to work in the middle of the intersection. Luckily I was close to a gas station so I went to get some gas. I returned to where my car is and by now the police where there... I wondered if somebody had called because of my car. Unfortunately I didn't have my phone, so I couldn't call them myself. Apparently there had been another car that stopped just a little ways away from where I was and they were called there. They saw me and offered to sit behind my car until I got back from getting yet another gallon after the first didn't start my car.
Well, that extra gallon didn't help and the officer even tried to start the car for me... to no avail. They called me a tow truck and I even sat in the back of the police car... I intend that to be the last time. It was uncomfortable, but at least it was warm.
A two truck was called... 80.25 to have the car towed back to my house. After an awkward fifteen minutes of sitting in the towtruck, we arrived at my house and the car was placed in the driveway off to the side as I always parked it. My dad had to pay the majority of it... but at least I have it back.
I was just so angry at myself. I knew I had to change the oil but never had the time or money and now if my engine is burned out, that would mean the end of that car for me. Lord knows that I won't have the money any time soon for a whole new engine. Whatever... that car wasn't that great anyway. It had a good run... obviously that run was longer with the previous owner than with me... but it was good nonetheless.
It's not official yet but...
R.I.P
Chrysler Concorde LX
June 11, 2009 - December 7, 2010
I hope that you're car gets fixed. I had to sit in the back of a police car once too. One time my mom accidentally drove into a snow bank and someone called the police before my dad could come pull the car out. And the police man made us sit in the back of the car until my mom convinced him that it was okay and my dad would come get us out.
Posted by: Selena Monet | Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 08:29 AM