My van is sick, again.

I think my van gets separation anxiety when it's mechanic (my Dad) goes out of town. I had a hunch last night, knowing that my parents were flying to Florida today for a week, that something, anything, would go wrong with my car this week. And guess what? Today, before they even boarded the plane, the van started having it's "coughing fits" on the way to the aquarium. We promptly turned it around and took Terry's car instead. The last two times it has done this, an easy fix of a $65 part (there are 3 of these parts in my engine, and it seems the last one has finally died) did the trick, but only the mechanic has the tools and knowledge to replace the part. So, with him in Florida, I'm taking it to the bus garage with me on Tuesday and hoping that our mechanic there will take 5 minutes out of his day to "fix" my van. I really hope that's it.....I do NOT want car repairs this close to Christmas. Or do I just want a new car for Christmas?! LOL!

The fits that the van has given me recently has made me start "looking" at new cars. This doesn't mean I'm buying anytime soon. I promised myself and my husband that I would drive this van "into the ground" and I meant it. It's just that the newer cars look so cool driving down the road. They aren't near as messy inside (I just KNOW they can't be as bad as mine, no matter how many kids live inside it), their exhaust doesn't make a louder than normal noise, parts aren't breaking on them every few months, and they have less than 135k miles on them. And they haven't been dinged on BOTH sides now....by red and blue cars (it's a sage van people!) New cars have that smell...albeit, that smell that gives me nothing but a headache, but it's NEW CAR smell...for a new car, I'll take the headache!

I reminded Terry today that it was 7 years ago this Christmas that I bought the van for myself as a "to me, from me" gift, without even asking him. I just went to the dealership while he was at work, picked out the van I wanted to lease (which, BTW, never lease a car you plan to buy...it takes YEARS to pay off.....I know) and went the next day to pick it up....and didn't tell him until we were practically on our way to pick it up! Yeah, I couldn't get away with that now....he makes the money and has the credit. Drat! I asked for a new car under the tree...or at least in the driveway with a big red bow wrapped around it (like the Infiniti commercials, only now an Infiniti!), but I think the eye roll said it all. I'm stuck driving my almost 8 year old van....for now. Bad coil and all.