PT Cruiser Type Rental

Wow! I took Baby in to get her crumpled fender straightened out - finally - and the rental car provided is one of those cool looking cruiser types. It practically screams out "Hot Mama!" Gingerly I climb behind the wheel, not sure I am up to such a classy car. I fuddle with the seat buttons and check out where the lights, wipers, mirrors and other gadgets are located. The console offers a place to plug in your iPod - and satellite radio. I am so last century. This stuff is normal now for cars.

I gaze sadly at my own little Malibu, glad that she will be better soon, but I will miss her. She fits me comfortably and we know each other well. But there is no help for it. I must get to work, and this new jobber will be taking me. I pull up to the exit and wait for cars to pass before pulling out. The wheel turns strangely under my hands, the car hair-trigger responsive. This will take some adjusting.

By the time I am halfway to work, Baby is long forgotten as I discover all the benefits of this new vehicle. People actually stare at me as I drive by, envious of my cool ride. The car purrs and yowls its way to my work place, and I am delighted to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. I could get used to this.

After a few days though, I realize that I don't want to get used to the new car (and especially the payments that would require). The seats don't fit me comfortably. I sit higher up than in my Malibu, and the view is different. I begin to wish they would hurry up and return Baby so I can get back to things as normal. But even with the return of Baby, things are not normal. Despite the shininess of her fender fixed, I see that Baby needs more work. All my hopes of setting aside money that would have gone towards the car payment evaporates as I start figuring out the cost of new brakes, a tie rod, new tires and other little falling apart stuff. Ack.

Its sort of like with my body. While the cancer is at bay, I need to do some "updating" of body parts that are aging. I can't necessarily get a brand new body quite yet, but neither am I content to make do with worn out accoutrement's. So begins my renewed efforts of eating better, walking more, taking care of the dry skin and the limp gray hair. Time to do a makeover - for both Baby and me! And I think I actually have the energy to start.