Written last night at about 11:45, after the electricity and air conditioning had been out in the house for several hours and the temps were above normal and very humid.  This came on the heels of frustrations with car problems and various life challenges.  At about 2:00 am, relief finally came as the lights and air conditioning were restored.  Thankful for the small comforts that wash me like a wave!

The lights went out here at my home

I feel the heat, but there's no storm

Shadows fall and turn to night

Summer's warmth begins to rise

By a lantern's radiant glow

My pen dances with a flow

Of loaded spirit sailing free

Lines and rhymes, teasing me

Out the window my heart flies

Watching water colored skies

In the stillness I believe

Dreams can happen on this eve

Even in the sultry air

There is hope when God is there

Difficulty seems to know my name

But my Father knows the same

In greater measure with a hand

That catches me and helps me stand

Darkness, He will conquer you

Heat may come, yet not consume

Fresh wind blow and set me free

This warm night, deliver me

Soooo....here's a little rant for ya (in case you wanted to hear/read one!)  This handsome beast was ME yesterday.  The reason I had his scowl and attitude?  Car problems.  Car problems.  Car problems!  I am a "get me a car that is used, cheap, but functional" kinda person.  I don't really care too much if it is older or isn't a Jaguar.  But I REALLY want a car that works.  Like in:  The AC creates icicles on my nose, the heater keeps my feet warm and the radio and/or CD player works - without the fuzzy speaker rattle.  It feels good to have leather seats that aren't ripped or a body that hasn't endured a ghetto, but first on my list is FUNCTIONABILITY.  (Is that even a word?)  

That brings me to my story.  We own two of those kind of cars - used, but WERE Functional.  The AC'S, heat, radio and interiors and exteriors have been in reasonably good shape.  These cars have been a blessing in many ways, and I have been thankful - maybe because it wasn't so long ago that we acquired them after having two previous used cars that wore completely out and became their own nightmares.  It seems we have had a taste of that once-had bad dream again as of late.

One car, that my husband drives to work has been having a little dying problem for months.  Now, I'm not sure why we didn't get it in when that began....oh wait....we DID.  They couldn't find the problem, so we just kept driving it.

The 2nd car that we call "my" car began having an AC problem.  Now that is stepping on a nerve for me, so I began ranting a bit about it until my hubs gave in.  We had it charged.  It worked...for a short while.  We had it looked at again.  It worked...for a short while.  We had it looked at again.  It had a mouse nest in what they call the cabin filter.  Apparently our garage breeds mice to the point they need nesting places beyond the bottom of boxes and drawers there.  The nest was removed.  It worked...for a short while.  As this is going on, the car started to develop other issues with the wiper blades and a need for a fuel pump.  Only money.  Right? 

In the meantime the OTHER car starts making back-up noises and has a cracked windshield.  Never mind that between mechanics everyone is trying to get to work, schedule and make doctor appointments and do the taxi service for my daughter (a full time job itself)!  (I don't even add trips to the grocery store, Walgreens, events etc to the list here.  We are a rather "driven" family.

Soooo.....my hubs is driving my car to work because it has NO AC and I demand AC.  (See picture)  And I am driving his car to work with AC that needs a charge and dies intermittently while I take clients to and from where they need to be each day, as that is what I do.  All the while I wish I lived in Montana or Alaska since the last week or two have been the HOTTEST since hell was created!  (for effect - see pic again).  

(Rest of story in present tense for more effect:)

So yesterday the hubs comes in and I go out to meet him as we are going together to pick up "his" car from the mechanic - even though they told us they couldn't figure out the problem and suggested we take it to a transmission place.  Grrrrrrrr.  I start to get in the passenger side and the door has a big DING in the side.  My jaw drops open and I look at it  - kind of like the monkey here - and more or less pound my chest with both fists clinched!  (Well, not really....but I did screech like a chimpanzee!)  It is a mystery ding.  Neither of us had noticed it until now.  As if there weren't enough injury, now I have been insulted!  We go on toward the repair shop, me close to tears or rather rumbling inside like an fast-expanding volcano.  

I drive his car out of the mechanic's lot (because IT has AC - yep, that attitude of mine) - and it dies.  SO....we go back, get the guy and so he can see what is happening.  He suggests he keep it overnight - again.  SO, we leave it and go eat.  Always a good thing to do when life punches you in the gut - eat.  Eat a LOT.  I mean, isn't that what the ape did?  Told you it was me.

Ending that I pray is not another beginning:

We picked up the car - again - tonight.  They still couldn't figure it out.  Gotta get it in on Friday - you guessed it - to the transmission guy.  And we can only hope that they will fix the clunking noise when it backs up.  No one is quite sure if that will fix the dying problem - could be an ignition recall that the dealer will fix - free - so they say.  Meanwhile, it DOES now have cool air.  However, the OTHER car is going in next week to get IT'S AC fixed.  (We HAVE managed to get the wiper transmission and fuel pump fixed in the meantime - how, you say?  I dunno.  Persistence, pacing and primate ATTITUDE paid off, I suppose!

I have to wonder if swinging from a few trees might make me feel better?  In the meantime, scowling and dagger-eyed looks haven't made these cars functional!  If it did, I guess I'd be driving a Jaguar!  :)

Never stop seeking the beautiful unbelievable

Susie's eyes in petals gold

Queen Anne's lacy quilt unfolds

Fields of emerald rolling free

Under floating clouds that dream

In water color puffs of white

Sliding slowly 'cross the sky

Roofs where farmers work and play

And it smells of sweet, fresh hay

Summer's gifts, complete delight

Once again enchant my sight

Looking through the fence I see 

Rolling hills and fields of green

Oh so close, the other side

A place to run under blue skies

And yet I do not seem to know

How to move from this shadow

Should I slowly start to climb

Or with one leap just try to fly

I am sure there is a way

Lord, please hold my hand today