Automotive Ailments & "Used to Coulds"

Years ago, a very loving friend taught a single, poverty level mother how to work on her own car. She was able to master changing the oil, replacing brakes, master cylinders, alternators, voltage regulators, spark plugs, brake lines, CV joints, radiators, adjusting carburetors (the things that fuel injectors replaced)...a few other minor repairs. She learned these things to preserve what precious little income she had. 


With great sorrow, this is a lost ability now. Health and modern mechanics, the new computer chips, and other circumstances no longer allow her to do these things. Things that once brought great joy and a sense of pride, of accomplishment. These things have not, however, hampered her ability to discern certain symptoms common to automobiles. The latest of these issues is the ALTERNATOR. Vile and vicious situation when they no longer work properly and the brushes wear down. 


Another issue is the fact that modern vehicles MUST be connected to a computerized machine and have diagnostics run on them to help determine many mechanical issues. So much for the "shade tree". It's off to a garage attached to a business, which in turn, is attached to $$$ per hour for labor alone. Parts are another issue entirely. The prices these days for the simplest parts are astronomical. Major parts are... I can't say it. It's painful, scary, heart-wrenching, and budget blasting.


I must apologize to my readers, this entry today is merely a collection of thoughts and woes. I just had to get these things out of my head, said and done with. There was a time in my life when this would not have been any concern at all for the parts were much more affordable back then and the labor cost little more than a jug of tea, a pot of coffee and a good home cooked meal. 


Herein lies the problem. I "used to could" do this for myself with a little help. "Used to could". :) Now, I must rely on professionals that come with fees beyond my capacity. (sighs) I will have to do a series of blogs enlightening you with the humorous antics involved with past automotive repairs.


Yes, I am that mom, and I am so grateful for what I have had and appreciative for what have now. 

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Down Time

So, I was considering how people spend their "down time". In all honesty, I 'm not sure we actually experience that these days. In my so-called down time I am actually doing something. I look over my FB pages, I play the app games, I read what others post. I research information for my blog on Fashionista Fun by SensaFashion. This means looking over pics and pinning them to my Pinterest Board. I also work on the writing part. NOW, here I am posting for my own personal blog. At other times I look over text messages.


What actually is "down time"? Merriam Webster defines it as: Definition of Downtime

1

: time during which production is stopped especially during setup for an operation or when making repairs

2

: inactive time (as between periods of work) <napping during our downtime> <an injured athlete facing months of downtime>

This "downtime" was once considered a part of one's daily activities. Now, it is a long, lost, luxury that few know how to appreciate or utilize. I rarely see an individual who isn't using a cell phone, mp3 player, ipad, itouch, kindle, netbook, computer, bluetooth or any one of the numerous other devices available in these, our times of "technology".

Okay, so we know what downtime is, how it is consumed, but what about how it USED to be spent? I recall sitting on a porch swing, a yard swing, a glider, or on lawn chairs outdoors, visiting with family as we swung our feet or swayed. There was mutual sharing of verbal communication. Talking. CONVERSATIONS. One person spoke, the others listened, folks took turns responding to the first statement. Histories were shared, stories told, sun tea and lemonade sipped. Kids laughed and played around the yard. (pardon me, I cannot see for the moistness brought up by these memories) You had near on 3-4 generations there. All gathered together just because you liked being with one another. 

This is probably a lost art, this ability for "downtime". The marvelous lack of better things to do. Now, I have said my peace. I think I will actually go do "nothing" and enjoy a little "downtime". 

Thanks for reading, listening, caring.

Still a "WORK IN PROGRESS".

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