Fortune Cookie for the Day - #1

I'm thinking of starting a segment that will feature a different fortune everyday (or mostly everyday). Many people get a kick out of reading fortune cookies, so I thought it would be cool to gather my fortunes and write a little about each of them. I already have a collection of them, but when I run out, I might start writing my own fortunes. So on with the first fortune:

"In the near future, you will discover how fortunate you are."

This statement might seem a little redundant considering it is a "fortune" from a "fortune cookie" which speaks about "being fortunate," but I think it is important to stand back every now and then and look at the big picture. Life sucks. Plain and simple. But one can take comfort in the thought that it is always worse for someone else. Somewhere down the road, someone has it worst of all, and I would really hate to be in that person's shoes, but the thought makes me feel a little better about my position. I've had my fair share of mishaps, misfortunes, mistakes or whatever you want to call them, but at some point, things have to start looking up. And if you think you're at that point and things still look gloomy, laugh.

Those who know me know that recently I've been at my wit's end in frustration with an automobile nightmare. In June 2008, I purchased a 1988 Mercury Cougar after my 1991 Chevorlet Astro (Van) finally kicked the bucket after a respectable 280,XXX miles. I was in desperate need of transportation and was forced to settle for a "nearly perfect" car. Apparently the man I bought the Cougar from had a very different viewpoint of the span between "nearly perfect" and just regular old "perfect" than I did. My first hint was the transmission going out with a month of buying the car. $1,500 to fix it. I was off to a great start.

It was a constant struggle to keep the car running. Some might remember an episode of "Malcolm in the Middle" from Season 6 titled "Malcolm's Car." The episode was about Malcolm's struggles with a Plymouth Barracuda. Everytime he would repair something on the car, something else would mysteriously break or fall off, almost as if the car is alive and toying with him. After abandoning his family and friends for the car, Malcolm discovers his addiction to the teasing Barracuda and the episode ends with the car nearly killing him.

I have been in this struggle for the past 9 months. I gave up the battle with the Cougar and devoted my attention to a much sexier project, a 1969 Ford Mustang. While yes, this car is considered a classic and I get many compliments on it, I still can't help getting frustrated with the same never ending battle Malcolm fought. I just pray that I don't break a door handle off while working inside the running car in a poorly ventilated area.

In the last 2 months, I've replaced:
Upper radiator hose
Lower radiator hose
Thermostat
Air Filter
Fuel Filter
Alternator
Battery
Carborator (work in progress)
Fuel Pump
(Water Pump and Fan Belts may need to be replaced soon)

So far I have spent almost $300 to replace all of these parts.

My point is: no matter how bad things get, even if they go from one bad thing to the next, they will get better. You have to laugh at the bad stuff to keep you from going crazy. I did my fair share of laughing to fight away tears between the Cougar and the Mustang. My mechanic has taught me a few things.

1. Laugh in the face of danger - He showed me first hand when my Carborator attacked him and the first words out of his mouth were (with a smile) "Did you see that fire ball in my face?"

2. Everyday is an adventure. Nearly every time we take the Mustang out on a trip, it breaks down. You take the good with the bad and really learn to laugh through the pain.

3. Always bring a back up. We both rode in the Mustang once and got stranded 60 miles away from home. My advice, let your friend drive another vehicle if you aren't confident in your own. That way you at least can get home.

I'm still waiting to discover how fortunate I really am, but I know from experience, I'm much better off than I had thought.