Day 15: Blue Magic

Many of you may not know that I bought my car in 2013. It was my first real purchase after my marriage ended and I was excited to have something I did for me. My best friend helped me with locating a car and negotiating the rate and all the things I wanted. I literally just filled out the credit application on-line and signed my paperwork after work that night and drove off the lot with my new car. It was a 2012 Nissan Maxima.

I was in love. A midnight blue color (blue is my favorite color) with leather heated seats, a heated steering wheel and sunroof. It was exciting, beautiful and everything I wanted. It was magic and I was ecstatic. Munch instantly loved the new car. We felt like we were creating our new normal after his dad and I separated. We had just redecorated our home and now we had our own newer car.

I affectionately named her “Blue Magic”. Blue Magic was there for us when two months later my apartment suffered multiple pipe bursts through the cold. She held our belongings as we moved into a hotel through the flooding and repair of our pipes. The apartment situation was overwhelming. Me and my kindergarten son were living in a hotel down at the National Harbor. He loved it. I longed for my own bed.

In that hotel parking lot was the first accident that I got into with my car. It was January 2014, I scrapped the side of the yellow pole in the parking garage. Bright yellow paint was now on the driver’s side of my car. I called my insurance company and put the car in the shop. It was $2,200 worth of damage. I sighed. Blue Magic was repaired and we were on the road again.

In June 2014, I was rushing to bring snacks to Munch’s soccer game for all the players. I drove the wrong way in a roundabout. It was early morning and there was minimal traffic. I stopped and proceeded to back up. A van hit me head on. More damage to Blue Magic but she could still be driven. The van – not so much. It was my fault again. I wasn’t paying attention. Ugh!

Blue Magic was repaired. She was ready to go.

In November of that same year, my car renewal came in. I was depressed and flabbergasted. You can read about in my post Yep, I am officially depressed. Times got hard. Car insurance was astronomical. I was wondering if I was going to have turn tricks or work the pole in a strip club. I was comforted knowing that Blue Magic was still there.

In July of 2014, my best friend asked to borrow my car. He didn’t have a car at the moment as it had died and went to junk yard heaven.  He wanted to go to a party. I was in the house for that night, so I let him borrow it. I awoke the next morning realizing that he hadn’t called my house or cell. Where was my car? I called him. He told me that he fell asleep and was on his way. An hour later and he still hadn’t arrived. I called again. He said he’d be there in 15 minutes.

He arrived at 9:30 am telling me that he got into an accident with my car. He fell asleep behind the wheel and hit a police car. He was fine. The police officer was fine. Blue Magic had more damage. I cried. My car insurance had just been raised 116%. I couldn’t afford this.

I survived. So, did Blue Magic. Yeah and my friendship still survived. Blue Magic was a fighter. Regular oil changes and new tires she was a good and reliable car.

In December of 2015, Munch and I were in the house when there was a knock on the door. Not expecting anyone I asked “Who is it?”. It was the county police. I started freaking out. Did someone die? I opened the door. He asked me to come outside. He wanted to talk to me.

I got dressed and Munch and I went outside. Blue Magic had the entire front end on the ground. My new neighbor backed a U-Haul into my car. I fell to the ground crying out in agony “Blue Magic – Oh My God. Look at you girl.” I was a wreck. Crying and rubbing my car. Munch started crying. The officer and neighbor were looking at me like we were fools. They didn’t understand love of my car or the fact that I was a single parent having to get my son back and forth to school.

Back to the shop she went. Right before Christmas. Happy Holidays.

She was fixed. Strong car. She inspired me. She took lickings and kept on ticking. In June of 2016, Mr. C and I were meeting for breakfast. A driver side swiped me on the driver side of Blue Magic. I was heated. What the hell was going on? I cried. Mr. C came on the scene to comfort me. Back to the shop she went.

In November of 2016, a driver reversed his work truck into my front end in a parking lot. He wasn’t paying attention. Blue Magic was hit again. I couldn’t believe it. I cried out in anger and frustration. Back to the shop she went.

It’s been a year of no one running into or side swiping Blue Magic. I’m thankful for her. I’m thankful for her strength, her determination and her ability to keep looking beautiful in spite of the many accidents she’s had. Blue Magic reminds me that no matter what you go through, you have to keep going. People need you. People want to see you on the road living your life like it’s golden.

It’s day 15 and I’m thankful for my car, Blue Magic in my #23daysofthankfulness. I’m thankful for all that I’ve been through with this car. I’m thankful to God for allowing this car to protect all that have been inside. I’m thankful for the way she’s taken many lickings and keeps on ticking.

 

Want to keep in touch? You can find me on social media at the following links: Twitter @mskeeinmd, Facebook page A Thomas Point of View and my Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/mskeeinmd/.