Stranded

Have you heard about A&E's new reality show, Parking Wars, which follows Philadelphia Parking Authority employees on their daily rounds? A&E notes that the car is part of the American way of life, and "one of the most tangible expressions of a person's freedom and identity."

My car doesn't have a pet name, I don't talk to it or attribute human emotions to it. But I was completely carless for 24 hours today, and it was unsettling.

While my car was at the shop waiting for its new clutch (thank you for the help, Dad!), I got a ride home from work yesterday. It was beautiful out, and I had been stuck inside all day, so I decided to walk to Kroger on the corner (to look for Postum). Not too bad--I took my mp3 player and listened to Jodi Picoult all the way there and back. Negotiating the parking lot between Kroger and Subway on foot in the dark was a little dicey, but I arrived home unscathed.

Standing on the curb at 5:45 this morning waiting for my ride to Seminary felt a little weird. And then at work, I was completely "off"--anxious, unfocused, talking in incomplete sentences, etc. I thought it had something to do with only getting 2.5 hours of sleep, being stressed out about writing interview questions for this week's employment interviews, and facing the prospect of phoning back a bunch of other unsuccessful job applicants. But once I was in my own car, driving to (a different) Kroger, I suddenly felt much more like myself. I'm getting more tired by the minute, the questions still aren't written, and I haven't broken the bad news to everyone yet, but my very own all wheel drive station wagon, complete with new clutch, is waiting faithfully in the parking lot, ready to deliver me home as soon as I say the word. Just a minute, Bessie--I'll be right there.