Lost, Broken or Stolen
by Steve Mitchell
I once heard (or, more likely, I once saw on TV) Buddhist monks consider all their possessions already lost, broken or stolen.
Or maybe I dreamed it.
Anyhow.
It’s a good philosophy, a way of avoiding attachments to material things which can’t endure.
I remember when my first new motorcycle fell over in the carport.
AAAiiiyyyeeeeee!!!!
The bike was less than two weeks old. I was aghast. I was mortified.
But then, once I cooled down, I was sort of relieved. I could quit worrying about the shiny and just ride the bike. ”It’s a working bike, now.”
I’m thinking about it because the shiny, red, oh-so-pretty, sports car I bought yesterday is slowly revealing itself to me. It’s not a new car. Oh, no. It’s seen some miles. Yes indeed.
Mechanically *knock on wood* it’s pretty sound. It goes like stink. Nothing rattles or shakes which you wouldn’t expect to rattle or shake on a convertible. It has a sweet sounding exhaust note and a nice road feel.
But, oh, look, the front bra is frayed on one edge. And there’s a crack in the center console. Ooh, and the shift knob feels oddly glued. And, well, I knew the passenger visor was broken. And, hey, one of the attachment points on the top has a broken rivet. And dig it, the key fob batteries are dead.
What else?
I’m sure there’s more. I know I’ll find more.
It’s a teeny bit aggravating. I’m no Buddhist.
But, it’s not mortifying. After all, it’s been driven. As shiny as it is, it’s a working car. I can fix what I can fix and, otherwise, I’ll just drive the dang thing.
I’m kind of a relieved.
Both my husband and I had been accustomed to driving beaters our whole lives until we bought our first brand new car. It was nerve wracking. Then one day, someone at the Y did a dent and run on the front quarter panel. It was a relief! Now it was just like any other car we’d driven.
We still haven’t ever bought a new car. I had a new motorcycle (which is now almost ten years old) but never a new car. Part of the stress I feel is the need to keep a vehicle from disintegrating too badly before it’s paid off! We managed to get our money’s worth out of the Saturn, for sure.
I have to admit a fondness for our old beaters, but it is nice to drive a car that hasn’t had any problems except cosmetic ones over the last five years. I’ve spent a lot of time on the side of the road with vehicles that have given up- I’m glad to not have that happen now with a child in tow.
I agree with that 100 percent. Nothing about a vehicle is more aggravating than being stranded by it!
Also, it’s probably stolen.
d’OH!
That would explain the price, though. $43.17 and a pack of Benson and Hedges Ultra Light 100′s is well under KBB.
aloha Steve. yeah. good philosophy that monk one. and way cool on your new-to-you shiny been-there-before wow car.
heck. i’d just like another motorcycle. not going to be likely to happen tho unless i make my million dollar goal soon.
still. . . monk power on you. a right honey of a homey car fun on you too.
will Lucie get a red scarf to flutter in the top-down breeze? (spring for a new one if you get it for her) fun on. aloha.