I know how you feel -- I hate feeling dependent on others for transportation. Then I start remembering how great it was to live in the city (Chicago), instead of the suburbs, where I didn't need my car so often.

Thank goodness I have a great neighbor I can count on to get me back to the mechanic or to drop me off at the train station.

The key is to do something nice for your son! Take him out to dinner, make cookies for him? I'm sure he doesn't mind taking care of Mom once in a while!

(And if I were you, I'd ask your son now if he can get the prescriptions, so you don't stress about running out of meds and he can do it when he has some spare time.)

I agee ... let your son know ahead, which gives him an oppotunity to work it in among his other activities.

I have another seniors' drivers test coming up in a few months (every 2 years after 80) and figure that I can live in the country ... as long as I can drive.

Hitch-hiking in winter, surrounded by snow, sometimes accompanied by blow ... would drive one up the wall.

ole joyful

Hi dotty,

Are you mobile, yet?

Taxi as an alternative?

Rent-a-car? We used to have, "Rent-A-Wreck" ... but I think they went broke: had some respectable, if older, vehicles.

ole joyful

I feel your frustration.

That's exactly why I go the the shop I go to... they always give me a loaner car.

It is 11 days now. It is so darn depressing and frustrating. Our car guy is very reliable but this is an older car. We bought it a year ago last July, when our Merc died. I really wanted a newer car, but our car guy had this one he was selling for a lady. It looked almost new yet, inside and out and he had gone over it thoroughly and it was in good running condition. It had everything I wanted except cruise control and the price was right. This is the first trouble we've had. It is a 1989 Dodge Colt. The trouble is something about the fuel not getting to the injectors....what ever that means. Fortunately our Son lives close and his working hours are such that he can take me on errands in the mornings. It is just that I am used to being independent. Thanks for the good words KT friends.

Do you have some kind of Dial-a-Ride in your community? You can ask at a local senior center or sometimes hospitals have senior services and can give you information.

Hope you get the car soon. 11 days is pretty long.

A 1989 Dodge Colt is an old vehicle. One of my nephews had one, the stick shift version. He lived on a farm with gravel roads and attended college that was 30 miles away. He drove the snot out of that little mill and it stood up for many miles.

From you description, I fear you needed a fuel pump. I believe that the Colt is essentially a Mitsubishi with a Dodge nameplate. Since the '89 were made, Chrysler became part of Daimler-Benz, then was owned by a Canadian venture capital group, was spun off on its own, went belly up when the economy tanked and was picked up by Fiat. Fiat has yet to get a grasp on the company, but Dodge is showing some signs of life. After Fiat purchased Chrysler, they began divorcing Chrysler from their Japanese partners. Now, with that background, I'd expect that the stocked parts for you car is non-existant. The only parts available would be those made by third party vendors who supply auto parts houses. In our state, dealers are required to carry parts for new car up to 7 years, and after that, it's dealer's choice. Your car is long past the 7 yr date - expect a long wait for a new part. A salvage yard is your next best chance.

Oh, I know how you feel. There's been a few times my rig was in the shop and I just fidgeted. It's not that I really needed or *wanted* to go anywhere, it was that I *couldn't*! The loss of independence and self-sufficiency. Don't suppose someone you know has a golf cart you could borrow? ;)

{{!gwi}}Or get out your leather jacket and go Two Fat Ladies style. You have your motorcycle endorsement? (You didn't specify how many wheels you wanted!)

Thanks, Cynic...you expressed exactly what I was feeling...I may not HAVE to go somewhere..but I CAN'T. I think it is totally ridiculous that a car is supposed to last only 7 years. What a stupid waste. We live in one of three almost connected very small towns in No. MN. There isn't any of the transportation opportunities that some find in larger towns or cities. Hopefully, we'll know this coming week if our car guy can fix our car. If not, we will have to go to plan "B" as soon as we think of it.

I just hope you don't have to buy another car for inability to get parts timely, like I had to do one time.

Did you get your prescriptions and stuff? I'm planning a trip your direction sometime in the next few days and which day I go makes no real difference. To swing by and give you a lift would be no more than 5 (yes five) extra miles (I just looked on the map - scary isn't it?? LOL). I'd be thrilled to do it, but you might not be... since you'd have to have a cup of coffee with me and chat a bit! OK, OK... guess it's not worth THAT high a price is it? ;)

Seriously, I'd be glad to help any way I can. If nothing else I could do some calling around here to see if they have the parts you need. Drop me an email if I can help. I mean that.

BTW, most cars are supposed to last more than 7 years. But people want something shiny and new in their driveway. Something they often don't need and can't afford too!

Thank you, Cynic for your kind offer. Son, Scott's work schedule works out so he'll pick me up abt. 10:30, on tuesday morn. take me shopping, and the pharmacy is on the way home, he helps me to bring my groceries up stairs, then gets to the studio to do his pre-on air work before he goes on air at 2:00.

I guess plan 'B' will be getting another car if my little red colt can't be fixed. (we should know in a day or two) Which poses another problem, the closest town with a car lot is 10 miles away, and it's always iffy, if Hubs will be up to taking the trip and I'm clue-less about buying cars, besides the problem of getting to the lot, 10 miles away when we don't have a car. I'm letting my worrying get away from me. I'll keep you posted about our car saga. Again, thanks, friend Cynic...you are one of the good guys.