The Texas Bluebelle Story

Up until a few weeks ago, we had a silver 2011 Volkswagon Jetta four door sedan with a manual 5 speed transmission.  Although she wasn't a really fast or flashy car, she was very dependable and economic, especially with the astronomical gas prices that we've all had to contend with over the past few years!  Plus, she only had 32,323 miles on her odometer and had a lot more life left in her.  We had planned to keep her around as our economic get-around vehicle while we saved up to get something with a bit more Vroom under its bonnet.

Well, as we all know, sometimes life has a way of changing one's plans in unexpected ways.  While on the way back home on June 15th from a trip to Atlanta, I got a call from my son informing me that the engine blew up in his 2008 Mazda 6.  So, long story short we paid off the balance owed on the Jetta and shipped it to my son's apartment in Maryland. 

Here she is all packed up in the tractor trailer and ready to go to Maryland:

Heading to Maryland

We gave him the car free and clear so that he would have a dependable car to get around in without a car note.  After much nail biting on our part, the tractor trailer driver finally delivered the car to my son in pristine condition.  

Unfortunately, this was not the end of the silver Jetta saga.  I had informed my son that the car had a manual transmission before we shipped it to him and he said that he was fine with it.  Well, in the long run it ended up that he wasn't fine with it.  So unbeknown to us, he paid somebody $3k to replace the engine in his Mazda 6 and the Jetta was just sitting in the parking lot outside of his apartment.  So we told him that we'd give him the $3k for the engine and that we were going to fly up to Maryland to pick up the car and bring her back home to Texas.

But, the silver Jetta saga continued!  Not long after I talked with my son, I ended up getting a text from my daughter asking if she and her husband could buy the Jetta from us. They have two young children and really needed a second car that was safe and dependable.  They're a young, one income family so we just gave them the vehicle.  So after all of the drama, the Jetta ended up in a good home where she was very much wanted and needed and my son had a new engine in his Mazda 6!

But now we were down to only one car and needed to get another one.  A few weeks later, a car that was close to matching what we were looking for was delivered at the Frisco Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Dealer in Frisco, Texas.  We went through USAA's Car Buying Service and the dealer quoted a fair price, so on Saturday, July 18th we headed out to Frisco to test drive the car.

After hanging out at the dealership for over six hours, we finally drove home in our brand new B5 Blue Dodge Challenger SRT 392!  We've since named her Bluebelle. 

Here are some pictures of her:

Bluebelle at the Dealer right before we took her home

 

In front of our house - look at those beautiful red Brembos!

Bluebelle's Cockpit

Her new Texas specialty plates

 
Despite all of the pain and drama, everybody got what they needed in the end.  Bottom line, we love our Bluebelle!  She drives like a dream and she is the nicest car that we've ever had!

WIll My Real Family Please Stand Up

The last few years have brought some significant changes into my life, some good and some bad.  These changes were a result of some very hard personal decisions that I needed to make in order to ensure my own happiness and well being.  During times like these, kindness and support from family and friends is a blessing.  As with most people, I've always relied on certain family members for unconditional love and support.  However, what has come to pass during this past year has brought me to the following realization:  Blood means that you're related, it doesn't mean that you're family.

I'm shocked and saddened that somebody who I've always thought had my back has passed judgement and turned their back on me.  They've just cut me out of their life because I no longer conform to their "conservative" values.  I feel compelled to add that my personal decisions have not affected them in any way. 

This has caused me considerable sadness and anger at the same time.  This person has turned out to be such a self-righteous hypocrite!  Who the hell do they think they are passing judgement on me?  I've done nothing wrong to them or anybody else!  I need to let go of this, but it's been hard.  As of late, I've been finding considerable solace in the following saying: 

God says "the reason why some people have turned against you and walked away from you without reason has nothing to do with you.  It is because I have removed them from your life because they cannot go where I am taking you next.  They would only hinder you at the next level because they have already served their purpose in your life.  Let them go and keep moving."  Greater is coming your way, says the Lord.

Here's another saying that I've come to find comforting and true:

I will say that I'm very thankful that my dear sister has stood by my side unconditionally.  Thank God for her, Tegan and the rest of the people who are there for me no matter what happens!  They are my true family!  The rest are just a part of the passing parade.