Okay, so my car was old. 16 years old. It could legally drive itself in the US. And it leaked so that it rained on both the inside and outside. And the transmition was DYING. Like there was that time that it just didn't start when Gabe and Hillary were here. And that time where it just would NOT go up Jason's driveway. And the several times when it would just NOT go backwards. Like back up the slight incline in the Strongman parking lot. Like into my garage last night.
Yes, it was time to let it go.
Lets also mention that in Japan they have this thing called Shaken, that is basically an insanely expensive emissions inspection, every other year. And after a car turns 12, it happens every year. Mine was due on April 30th.
So yeah. I'm off today because I have the hacking crud, but seeing how I'm leaving the island for mainland tomorrow, and the mainland for Thailand the day after, and I won't bet back until next month, I needed to deal with car TODAY.
So, over the weekend I ask Sam to do it with me. She says fine, but today she's got a horrible sore throat, so she can't.
Okaaaaaay, so I ask Jeff, because he's had like 2 accidents that required a new vehicle, and he can't help either.
Okaaaaaay, so I go to the iinkai, even though I'm sick, so it's bad of me to show up, and I ask them what do I need to do. My new supervisor called my old supervisor and asks her what the heck I should do. Noriko comes up and calls my insurance agent, and when he finally gets there over an hour later, HE finally helps me more than anyone.
He fills out the paperwork I need to cancel my insurance. He then reimburses me for about 8500yen. Booya. I'd written that money as gone.
He then calls a recycle place, gets directions, shows me on the map where I need to go, asks them if I need any other paperwork (which I thankfully didn't), and sends me on my way. He even warns me that they'll be paying me for the car. Boo. Ya. Ka.
So I go. I find it (it's on the gusukubesen, on the right, across from Toast, just after the giant old looking Japanese gate. The first kanji of the name is 土 over 口, I have no idea how to say it, the driveway is at the same place as the giant gate thing). I get out and they tell me I have everything and then they give me 3000yen. Rock. I totally made money on this car.
And then, just to show you how people are on this island, the lady asks me how I was planning to get home. And I tell her I was going to catch a cab. And she Drives Me Home.
. . .
I love this island. And I need to remember that Miyagi Airi is a 5th grader at Kagamihara Sho, cuz she's her granddaughter and one of my students :P
So now, I am carless. My garage feels empty. I have to ride my scooter to work tomorrow and guess what it's doing Right Now. If you thought "raining" you'd be correct. Of. Course. But that's okay. I'm leasing a new (to me) car for 35,000yen a month starting when I get back. And that's a total deal. And I don't have to drive Nick's Car around any more. I loved that car, because I totally believe that that car ran on the power of love alone, but I don't have to worry whether my car will start or not, will back up or not, will just refuse to downshift at a red light or not, will rain on me or not . . .
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