For the last few decades, 'being a parent' has involved changing diapers, getting up in the small hours of the night, and dealing with education and larger sets of clothing.
Now that more of the kids are out of the house, we keep in touch by telephone and correspondence (e- and otherwise): and occasionally get more-or-less distressing news. The latest medical crisis obliged me to spend a week in North Dakota, filling in for the boss at a candle factory. (September 16, 2012)
Yesterday, #1 daughter called, using her cell phone. She was less than a thousand feet outside West Union, just west of Sauk Centre. Her car had shuddered, the motor stopped, at which point she lost power steering - but could coast to a safe stop.
After letting us know what happened, she called a towing service and got the car and herself to a garage on the north side: where the automobile was declared DOA. Metal shreds in the oil indicated that something had gone catastrophically wrong with the engine.
That's the bad news.
The good news is that the chap at the garage said that it definitely wasn't her fault.
In principle, the engine could be replaced: in practice, that would cost about as much as the car is worth, so we're looking at alternatives. #1 daughter and I spent most of this morning looking at used vehicles, and have a half-dozen or so 'possibles' to consider. Next step is to figure out what she can afford.
The good news is that my life hasn't been boring. Ever.
Vaguely-related posts:
- "Another Month, Another Unexpected Drive"
(September 16, 2012) - "An Unexpected Drive"
(August 13, 2012) - "A Quick Trip, a Factory, Candles: and Home at Last!"
(May 25, 2012) - "The Case of the Capricious Cruise Control"
(December 8, 2011) - "Candles, a Spreadsheet, and a Really Long Week"
(December 5, 2011)
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