One More Things...

To say that anyone needs a vehicle would be stretching that meaning of that word just a bit. Especially in Pittsburgh. Unlike many major cities, Pittsburgh does not have a good tram/subway system. However, they have an excellent bus system. There are buses everywhere and they go just about anywhere you could imagine. Almost everybody uses them to get to work, or school, or even the store. I have not yet had the pleasure, but if I worked downtown I would certainly use them. Paying for parking downtown must cost a fortune…not to mention the headache of getting into Pittsburgh (where all roads either lead to a bridge – or five – and likely a tunnel). So, in Pittsburgh, you don’t need a vehicle.

But for our family, a vehicle is a necessity. There isn’t a bus that runs directly to Ed’s work (which is in another county), although I could take a bus to work since the move. A bus would get us to church and even to most of the stores we frequent. (Although, I don’t shop like a city girl – two weeks worth of groceries would not be fun to load onto a bus, even for our little family.) And this year we have certainly thrown our money’s worth at keeping our loan vehicle on the road.

It’s been one of those years where you weigh the value of the said high-mileage vehicle and wonder if it’s worth the money you’re tossing at it. On the other hand, a car loan certainly isn’t very desirable and we haven’t the cash on hand to buy a vehicle that would work for our growing family (especially when considering a necessary move before #2 arrives). So between clutch problems, car inspections, timing belts, rental cars so it can be in the shop and – the latest – four brand new tires…well, let’s just say I’ve shed my share of tears, we’ve had some heated discussions, I wonder why we have to have vehicles and every month I wonder yet again if God hasn’t just dropped me in this city and left me to fend for myself. Yes, the word frustrating doesn’t cut it.

But, yes, I know it could be worse. Accidents happen every day. I see at least two a week. One of us could be seriously hurt or worse. There are crazy drivers out there and, granted, none of us are the ever-watchful drivers we ought to be. At the end of the day, it is just a vehicle. And, at the end of the day, the money being thrown away on it also belongs to God. I guess if He thinks it’s better spent on a new timing belt than toward a new house…well, He has His reasons.

As usual, I just wish I understood.