Rant #3,836: Give Me the Keys (And I'll Drive You Crazy)

After I brought my damaged car into the shop, I went to get the loaner car early yesterday.

I asked them for a small car, because that is what I am used to.

They brought out a Mitsubishi Eclipse, which is not a small car.

But that is what they had available, so I took it.

It is the first car I ever drove that starts with a push button, and I had several other questions for the attendant that got me the car, because my car's dashboard and controls look so old fashioned compared with this car.

Heck, I couldn't even figure out where the control was to open the gas tank.

It has automatic headlights, which I don't like, and if I can figure it all out, I will disable as soon as possible.

The attendant helped me with the radio, and I actually showed her how to plug in a flash drive to listen to music through that device.

That I could figure out almost immediately.

Then I drove home.

I have driven my wife's Jeeps numerous times, but rarely for long distances.

I had to drive home, it wasn't really a long distance, but it gave me a little time to get used to this car that I am going to have for at least a couple of days, if not more.

Bigger cars handle differently than smaller cars, and I believe that you have much more control with smaller cars, but that could be just me, since that is all I have really ever driven--save a couple of weeks decades ago, when I had no car, and I drove my father's old Checker cab for a spell.

But that was years and years ago, so I had to get used to this loaner car.

There is no telling when I am going to get my car back from the shop, so I better get used to it quickly.

In the shop, the mechanic told me that since so much plastic was involved in the accident, there was no telling when it would get done.

He said he would call me later this week with any details he could give me, so I will be waiting with baited breath.

Funny, the repair place is on Baiting Road, so I guess I will have to wait with baited breath for my car to be fixed on Baiting Road.

How appropriate.

Some guys have all the luck ...

I get a Mitsubishi to drive for a day, a week ... who knows how long.

I am going to sound like a baby now, but I want my car back!

Whaaaaa!

But who knows when that will be.

Hopefully sooner than later.

Your car almost becomes your baby the longer you drive it, as you know all of its nuances like you know your own.

But when you get another car to drive like my situation is, it just isn't the same.

It is a nice car, but it is not MY car.

In the meantime, hopefully, my insurance company can get back my deductible from the woman's insurance company, because I am absolutely not at fault here.

But with New York State's No Fault laws, I end up being at least partially at fault just by literally being there at the moment of impact.

So once again, I do everything right and it turns out wrong.

It all makes my head spin.

Let's see how long this takes.

I would love to drive my own car as we get closer to the end of the year.

Whaaaaa!