It's been a very interesting 24 hrs. for me and Big Blue. I was heading to my families home yesterday to celebrate some family birthdays, but first I had work. I cleaned myself up and got ready to go move Big Blue back to its resting place for the week in the parking lot. I sat myself down in Big Blue's glorious driver's seat for its triumphant return and it wouldn't turn over. No little click, click or screech, screech. Nothing. Nada. My heart sank. Was this the end of Big Blue? Did she simply need a jump start? Oooh, a jump start. That should do the trick. Sure enough the jump start did the trick. Big Blue started up in her old persnickety way.
Feelings of relief and elation washed over me as I drove towards the parking lot and as I crept into the parking lot. They died as Big Blue died in the parking lot. Clearly Big Blue just needed another jump start. Right? Right???!?!? Nope. Big Blue wasn't having any of that. She basically said, "Why don't you just push me to a spot and leave me be." Sadly this is what needed to be done since I was now on a time crunch to get to dinner with my family on time. I left town feeling hopeless, defeated, and totally unmanly. What kind of man doesn't know how to fix a car? What kind of man doesn't know what's wrong if it isn't a dead battery? Surely a man knows such things, but I don't.
Over dinner my dad and I talked about Big Blue a little and determined it was most likely the battery and the alternator that had gone bad since she died while running. My first order of business on a day that was supposed to be spent slowly coming back and running errands would be spent removing the old battery from Big Blue to go have it tested. It's still good! And they'll charge it for free!!!!! No way. I was ecstatic at the prospect of having Big Blue up and running at no extra cost. I was told it was in line to be charged and to come back later.
When I returned, "The battery would not a hold a charge," was the grim news I received. "So it's the alternator and that destroyed the battery?" "Probably...wouldn't know for sure unless you took the alternator out and brought it here to test it" was the reply I got. "Sure thing. Just what does it look like and how do I get it out," I spat out somewhat ashamed of this completely unmanly admission in an auto parts store. The guy helping me pulled up a picture and explained to me basically what I would have to do to get it out. Basically is right because he was definitely right that it was not that difficult, but getting at the two bolts to release was a little more trying than I imagined. By this time one of my future vanmates and I had moved Big Blue into a better location in the parking lot, filled the tires that needed air, and removed the transmission.
Then I had to decide if I had time to get it tested before going back to work. I figured I could be a little late so I would know what I had in store for me tomorrow as far as getting Big Blue put back together. Definitely a bad alternator. New alternator and battery purchased and awaiting installation on what should be the most beautiful day of the week.
Looking back at this little adventure I'm struck by how humbling it was since I had to admit a huge lack of knowledge and experience. The other thing that struck me was how calm I was because rather than getting completely upset--believe me I was not happy--I was trying to think of what the blessing God had for me in this. I'm confident that the time spent with my friends on both days in dealing with Big Blue was a huge blessing. It allowed for character to be shown, whether good or bad character I'm not sure, and it allowed for learning. I'm so excited to have learned a little more about cars today and to have successfully removed an alternator. We'll see how the installation goes...though it may be an equally blessed and humbling experience.
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