Monday, December 18, 2023
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Prius heaven
He shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. Blessed be the Lord God, who alone does wondrous deeds.
Good news! I made it back to Austin, through foggy rainy darkness on Friday night and beautiful sunshine on Saturday.
Friday night I got my Days Inn key, opened the door and fell on the bed. So happy to be off the highway!
Margaret flew to Austin from Springfield, and of course she arrived long before I did, safely. She got to see our apartment’s new kitchen and bathroom remodels first. Beautiful. Functional. Although of course we have a punch list when our apartment managers get back to work on Monday, but mostly we are grateful for the beautiful quartz-y counters and new white cabinets, sinks and black faucets. Sweet.
As I pulled into the Wagoner, Oklahoma motel, Marc texted Margaret and me. 6:23 pm on Friday night:
“Well, the car officially bit the dust.”
For decades we drove big cars because we found them through our mechanic, always well-kept, always inexpensive, always huge. Terrible gas mileage. In 2009 Margaret put her foot down. Our first grandson Jack was born on February 24, 2009. We hoped to drive back and forth to Springfield at least every couple of weeks to spend time with him and free up his parents by babysitting. Melissa’s mom Jan did a lot of that as well. All three of us grandparents absolutely couldn’t think of any better way to spend our time.
So, in the News-Gazette we tracked down a 2007 Prius, well-kept, 50,000 miles+. Gas mileage was between 45 and 50 mph. Its owners met us with the car behind a beauty shop where she worked. He decided he needed to get the car detailed so it would be perfect for us. OK!
We loved that car. Nine years later in 2018 we got a second used Prius and Marc has been driving the first one ever since.
Until Friday night. His mechanic buddy Ben said it needs a $2400 part and the labor would be another $700. Marc’s car has 265,000 miles on it. He had a $2000 repair last year. This year it was time to say goodbye.
But.
Other than these big things, nothing ever goes wrong with a Prius. Not ours (which has 167,000 miles and counting), not Marc’s, not anybody’s. Toyota cars are the cream of the crop.
Marc, Evie and their friend Brian went car shopping on Saturday. Marc was ready to settle in for a long search, maybe eventually find a Prius within a hundred miles that was right for him. He would be walking to work, but it wasn’t too far. Get the groceries delivered? Sure. Everybody is doing it these days.
But then we got another text. Saturday at 12:46 pm:
“Found one. 2017, 85,000 miles. In perfect condition.”
He found one in Urbana! The texts kept coming.
“It’s really really nice.”
“One owner. Fully loaded.”
Then he called. “Brian said I should wait at least an hour before I buy this. But I’m afraid somebody else will get it while I’m waiting.”
I knew the sales guy he was talking to at Napleton’s. “He’s a good guy,” I said. “Go back and buy it! It sounds perfect for you!”
I heard Evie in the background, excited that I didn’t think Marc should be more cautious.
4:01 pm … “It is ridiculously nice!” (Including a sunroof, according to the pictures!)
The last text was a video Evie took while Marc was driving it home, in the rain. The sunroof was closed. He was smiling from ear to ear.
And blessed forever be God’s glorious name; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
(Jeremiah 23, Psalm 72, Matthew 1)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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