Well we've done it. We are now the proud owners of a slate grey 1999 Honda Odyssey which we purchased yesterday from Carmax in LA. The process was pretty grueling - two plus hours of me on the phone with Carmax and USAA, who provided our financing, on Monday and a full five hours for Y. yesterday in person at the dealership. Pretty much the opposite of the 'seamless' process that both institutions sell you on, with most of the annoyance coming from the financing side. But it's finally done, thank God, and we got the van home last night. It drives well and, for a nine-year old vehicle, we are amazed at how new it looks since it's spent it's life in a climate that lacks rust issues. So now we number among the ranks of those in the 'American family car' club...
While Y. spent half the day yesterday in San Diego for work-related training, leaving the house at 4:30 AM to drive down with his colleauge, and the other half at the car-dealership, I spent the better part of the day hosting two plumbers in the morning and two electricians in the afternoon to address some issues in our house. All was resolved, and I was pleased with the promptness with which our landlord sent out the troops for service, as I'd only alerted her to them the day prior.
Monday I had the cable guy here for several hours, and this morning our twice-monthly paid gardener (a sweet Asian man named Lee whose service came as part of our house lease contract) arrived to spend his requisite 20 minutes on our tiny lawn and garden.
I was feeling very 'serviced' out after all this, but thankfully my kind neighbor Kim, wife of the fireman, came to my rescue by inviting the kids and me over to hang out with them for an hour in the late morning. Her house is visible in the photo next to ours, behind the van. She'd even picked me up a Starbucks latte just beforehand! Now that is an answer to prayer. She also provided me a printed list of recs for pediatricians when I asked her for recs, which was pretty impressive. Anyway, J. enjoyed playing with the kids (particularly their son John who is nearly five), the first time he has played with other children for two full weeks. And Kim is very easy to be with and not at all overbearing, which I appreciate - especially in a next-door-neighbor who may become a good friend. I really like her... And I felt much better generally after the time we spent there.
3 comments:
Welcome to the membership ranks of minivan ownership - a club where none of the members want to be but are all content to not be in the "15-passenger van club"! And thank goodness for the fact that Starbucks is in every state, county, city, town and village...
NNNOOooooooooo!!!!!!! Another faithful friend lost to the MINI-VAN epidemic.... I will cry myself to sleep tonight. You should have called me first so I could have chanted RESIST RESIST RESIST at you! Oh well! I guess these things just happen. God help me if they ever happen to me! :) JK Once again, thrilled to read your post and love the way it makes me feel connected to you on some level. Keep 'em coming!
Minivans? You just gotta jump in with both feet, drink the punch, don't look back, and absolutely, above all, have no shame. Never! I think it's funny your blog on the van has generated chatter. Ours looks just like yours! Well, your house looks great, and it's sounds like you're getting settled. What a blessing to have a kind neighbor. Enjoy getting to know your new surroundings, have fun, and remember, always always RESPECT THE VAN! xo
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