Dimples

Followers.

A happy holiday season to you all.  I hope that your holidays were filled with joy and wonderful memories.

Mine were not bad, but I had a really hard and sad moment with Dimples, my car.  Here is that Story.

Driving to work one day, the battery light came on.  I assumed that it was just not charging.  So I made my way to work.  The battery light coming on and off occasionally.  When I parked, I noticed my windows were slow to roll up.  Knowing about Dimples, I revved the engine which provided the extra burst to the alternator to keep the power going.  If my car did not start when I got back, I would call Security for a jump. But that extra power turned the battery light off and got the windows up.

Dimples and I have spent a lot of time together, getting to know each other.  Our quirks.  I maintained Dimples well. Kept the tires inflated. Gas never past 1/4 tank full, occasionally letting it get close to empty, as it happens to all of us.  I learned how to maintain Dimples through his needs and in return, Dimples learned about me. And we were in a good place.  We trust each other and know each other well.

That day, I get back to my car and it starts.  Hazzah!  I drive to the gym.  On the way, the windows are hard to operate, the battery light comes on.  Hmmmm.  Not sure what is wrong.  At the parking lot, I ask a friend, what is going on.  He goes under the hood and comments that I maintain my car well and it needs a little cleaning, but it is looking good, I take care of Dimples.  He notes I should clean the battery terminals but then opens up the water reserve.  It is low on water.  I knew non sealed batteries required water, but I never added it myself.  I maintained everything else I could, but not the water.  I knew of it but never maintained it.  I didn't know how easy it was to open up the reserve tank, thinking only a mechanic could assist such a thing.  And a mechanic can, and can show you how, you just have to take the action yourself. He, a friend and mechanic, advises me to get home and fill it up with water and that should keep the charge flowing through the battery.

On the drive home, the battery light is on more constantly then it is off.  Dimples had a warning system, lights that tell you maintenance is needed, something is wrong.  You need to fix something to keep it going.  That night, I became busy with other items and thought I made it a day revving the engine, I can make it till tomorrow.  I did not fill up the reservoir with water that night.

The next day, the light is still on.  Knowing about batteries, I revved the engine.  To keep a battery at a full charge and to keep the alternator going requires a constant state of motion.  To rev the engine would keep a charge in the battery.  I was late for work and had to get in.  So I went in and at all stop lights kept my foot lightly on the peddle to keep the engine going.  It was working.  The battery light turned off when I did this, but the light came back on when I would slow to a stop.  But Dimples and I made it another day.  I can keep this up until I fill the reservoir.

The next day, same scenario.  Dimples and I made it to work.  After work we ran some errands.  However, Dimples was now giving me a few more moments of warning signs.  Windows that barely rolled up.  So I really revved the engine thinking that all it needed was to get the parts moving to keep the battery full of energy, knowing however I should fill the reservoir.  After one errand, I went to go home.  Dimples was not having it.  I revved the engine.  We got through some stop lights.  But at one really long red light, I revved the engine and it was too long of a push on the gas peddle. Dimples was done.  He appreciated my effort, but in the end, I never filled the water reservoir.  So Dimples stopped.  On the on-ramp to the interstate, a road of progressive forward movement, Dimples broke down.  I could no longer rev the engine.  He was done. He was hurting, angry, and a little embarrassed over my lack of maintenance.

Dimples went home with me for the night. Via tow truck. But the presence was there for one more night.  Then the next day Dimples went to the mechanic.

I sit here, three days without dimples.  It is hard.  I kick myself for not putting water in the battery.  I knew that was the need.  I was told by a friend and mechanic all it would take is water.  But I didn't add the water, instead I revved the engine thinking that would help.  And the whole time I knew I just had to add water. Revving the engine may have kept Dimples going for a while, but in the end, it was not what was truly needed.  I regret not giving him water.

Will I get Dimples back.  Will our time apart be what Dimples needs.  It will take time for him to forgive me.  During those days, I look over the maintenance manual.  Reflect on what I need to do to ensure that as I move forward down the interstate, I know how to work on the items to keep a relationship with your car going.  Maybe I wont get Dimples back.  Maybe I will but in a new fashion.  If I move on to a different car, the lessons that I learned with Dimples will remind me of what it takes to maintain that relationship.  But I wont lie, Dimples is a part of my life.  We have spent a long time together learning those quirks and what makes us run. We spent time to work on that relationship and it is hard to think he wont be there. It will be hard to loose that part of my life if that is what happens. And I miss him.  I have hope that there is a possibility of Dimples and I reuniting.  But I take this time to reflect on what I didn't do, even when I knew what I needed to do. 

All it took was water in the battery. You can say my relationship with Dimples was 95% complete and running great, to its own unique specifications. Oh yes, there are dents in my bumper and a cracked windshield. I can replace a cracked windshield and remember the difficulty seeing through it. The dents can be smoothed out but with the memory of the damage there.  Those are fixable. So is the water.  I neglected the water

Now on to my car.  Dimples really did break down on me, following closely the story above. Battery issues.  I was carless for three days, missed her so. But after $600 I got a new alternator and battery.  A couple belts replaced since they were in there.  And now she runs smoothly. Better than she has in a while.  Dimples is back and we are getting along well.  And I give her my time, checking under the hood and keeping the tank full, the most valuable gift.  I also made sure to know how to open the water reservoir.

I am not sure how my Story will end.

Till next time,
Keep peddling