Monday, July 16, 2012

Luxury has its pitfalls

Last Friday I visited a local park for some photography therapy. During my time there I received two phone calls back-to-back--a rarity. As I chatted, clouds formed--ominous looking ones. I managed to get some decent shots then packed it in. Halfway home my BMW started acting like the brat that it is, flashing several warnings on the computer screen which instantly negated all the therapy. I limped home as it sputtered and stalled, forced to remain indoors the rest of the weekend.

Last year alone I spent over $1,000 in repairs. Currently, I'm facing a "transmission fault" and two other errors that I'm sure will make last year's repair bills look paltry in comparison.

I have never loved a car like I love this one, but maybe God is trying to tell me that all this luxury comes with too much of a price. It's not only stressful for me emotionally when it breaks down, but my bank account taking a hit like this is something I can ill-afford while between jobs. But when this baby is working, it's so smooth and solid. I know I shouldn't love a car...but...I do!






"Living in the lap of luxury isn't bad, except that you never know when luxury is going to stand up." ~Orson Welles

28 comments:

hootnonny said...

Your therapy is always so good for me! Sorry about your car.

Mine was acting out when Michelle was here...no air, then we were traveling 70 mph down I-40 and she says, "Mom, your car's running hot." The dial was on H. Good news after we added water at the garage, the air's worked and no leak could be found.

TexWisGirl said...

sorry about the car woes!

love that little bee whirring by in that one photo!

Anonymous said...

I love that Orson Welles quote.
Lovely photos!

Rosemary Aubut said...

Cars can be such a pain when they are not feeling well! Hope you work out all the kinks and she's purring like a kitten again! Love the photos did you take them with your new lens?

Deanna said...

ah so sorry to hear your auto woes. my sis-in-law had a bmw, loved it as you do, finally gave up because of those costs and got a Toyota. Hope it doesn't put too much a dent in the wallet. I do love the photos you were able to capture before the car woes, especially the bee in flight!!

Anonymous said...

Great quote and GREAT photos of those bees!! Your story about your car reminded me of my grandmother, who loved, loved, loved her car. She had an accident one day and she decided God was telling her she had loved it a little too much. That has always stuck in my mind!! So I've never really been car crazy. I want a/c and dependability and to be able to see over the steering wheel (one of our trucks made me feel like a 5 year old!) and that's about all I need! Well, a radio is nice, too.

Laura Delegal - Leroy Photography said...

Love your photos, especially the first and the bee dive. :D Had to laugh at your car woes (sorry), but it reminded me of my son's recent car story. He has a friend who got a wonderful brand-new luxury car. He was driving it back to his apartment from a weekend with her and her family, loving it, when all of the sudden the radio went off and he panicked. What had he done? Then he heard laughing and could hear his friend and her father coming through the radio. They were tracking him on the computer. He drove it for several days, but told me he was anxious to get his back because he was tired of the car talking to him. :) Hope you get it fixed. I had a 1993 Eagle Vision that was my favorite. Got over 400,000 miles on it, but had 3 transmissions. Good luck.

Suzan said...

Ouch!! RE: your car!
LOVE the photo with the white flower and bee coming in for a landing!! You have some lovely shots today!
RE: your car --- sometimes I wonder if they should just let a car be a car and let the computers stay on your lap or desk!! At one time- anyone could work on their car- now they have to be hooked up.

Unknown said...

If I remember right you bought that BMW last year or year before so it is quite new! Maybe your car is those "Monday" pieces which never works ( do you know what I mean). That is so sad cause you like it so much. My retro Fiat 500 has worked beautifully, no troubles at all, I'm so lucky cause I love that car:) You have serious thinking what to do with the situation....

Unknown said...

Oh I forgot to say; gorgeous pictures like last post too:)

Brian King said...

Fantastic photos, Gail! The bee in flight is awesome! Really nice work on all of them. Sorry about your car! Those kinds of problems have a way of showing themselves at the worst times.

Anonymous said...

Love the quote with your story...although I know the horror of worrying about those car bills. I too am in need of some photo therapy...it does work ;) The fence and the coneflower is a very striking photo..for some reason it really speaks to me. Good luck with your car.

Nancy said...

Car problems are the worst! They never happen at a good time.

Love your photos today -- beautiful!

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

You're an amazing photographer, Gail. As much as I enjoyed all of these, that last one just spoke to my heart. The Orson Welles quote is a gem. A good one to remember when things are going well. :)

Charlotte Wilson said...

Gail,
I had a BMW in the early seventies and it was never reliable. Pretty and fast though. Sorry that you are having trouble with yours!

Love that cone flower!

♥charlotte

Dianne said...

car trouble is always stressful and even more so when you love the car

gorgeous shots!!

Dianne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Starla said...

Your photos are therapy for me!! I think I need to get in the habit of taking my camera with me in the car, so I can stop "and try to photograph the roses".

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

You did catch some beautiful photos but your car trouble, well, sounds like trouble.....
Love your quote, so true!

Lisa Gordon said...

LOVE this quote Gail, and i sure hope your car is "all better" soon.

These are wonderful photographs, especially the first one.

Have a fantastic evening!
xo.

Amy Burzese said...

Great shots. Yes, cars and homes are money pits. I wonder too sometimes if it is worth having nice things.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

More gorgeous macros, beautiful flowers, I love the idea of photo therapy -- guess that's what I do now that I think of it. Sorry 'bout the car, bummer.

Unknown said...

As soon as my daughter moved away, I bought me a cute little Audi sports car.. I have to say I just love this car. So fun to drive. So I totally get how you can love a car. So sorry to hear it is giving you fits.

Your photos are amazing. Every single one of them.

Hugs~

Kathy said...

I sometimes feel we are all held hostage by our vehicles! But on a better note, I absolutely love that last photo with the coneflower and the lichen on the wood posts.

Michelle said...

So sorry about your car troubles, I hope the repairs won't hurt too much. We made the mistake of buying a VW Beetle for my daughter. When all is good, it's a fun little car. But...repairs are costly (twice as much, if not more than our other vehicles). But...we still love it. Sometimes it's worth the extra when it's something you really enjoy.

Your photos are like therapy...so pretty. I'm in love with that red plant and the hovering bee. 'Hope you won't be without a car too long. It's too hot to walk!

beth said...

ohhhhhh the pollen pockets on that bee :)

ps....i'm not a car lover and never really have been...but my new bmw and i are getting along nicely. sometimes though i open my big mouth and mention how i miss my honda pilot, but then i rub "his" dashboard and remind him that he's pretty fantastic, too :)

Anonymous said...

me no afford bmw, so i no help there... LoL! =)
but, i've been very fortunate w/ my Chevy... of course, a Chevy ain't no BMW, either! heheheee

Beautiful, wonderful, colorful shots, Gail... love how vivid your images are! =)

Hilary said...

I can understand the attachment to your car.. especially if it's done you well for many years. I hope the repairs aren't too costly.

Absolutely gorgeous photos.. filled with vibrant colours. A day-brightener, for sure.