Free Car!
By DianneN
@DianneN (254926)
United States
October 9, 2016 9:04am CST
Last Sunday I had to make a quick trip to the pharmacy. I decided to take my sports car, since I hadn't driven it in over 7 weeks.
I noticed the glove compartment was open and dark, so slammed it shut. However, it popped open and the light was on. I closed it gently and started the car. The battery icon showed up, but I figured I could recharge it while driving.
When I reached the pharmacy, I locked the car with a push of a button, shopped, and pushed the button to unlock the car. Nothing. The door wouldn't open.
I tried to open the key for the manual key inserted in the main key. I couldn't get it out. A man I asked for help couldn't open it. I used my pen and I finally got the key out!
But I couldn't get the key to unlock the car. I tried so many times and resorted to asking another man for help. He couldn't open the door either. I wanted to get rid of that car immediately by giving it away for free. I was so frustrated.
My poor husband was waiting for me at home, and unable to help over the phone. I called my son, who was grocery shopping. He left his cart and arrived in record time. He took my key and unlocked the car in one try and started the engine! I felt like a fool, and had planned on calling AAA or our car service department for a flatbed.
Since my car has two batteries, one for the convertible, door locks, etc. and the other for the engine, I must have drained one. My son told me I need to drive it more to keep it charged.
So you haven't seen me much, because I've been taking my hubby for long drives and to visit his doctor with the top down. The weather had been glorious. The car purrs like Doodles.
You can't have my car, free or not, afterall!
P.S. My hubby bought a gizmo to keep the car charged when we leave it here to go to Florida. Thank goodness our condo didn't get hit by Matthew!
23 people like this
25 responses
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
9 Oct 16
Thank goodness for a rescuer son... 
I have four sons which I expect any one of them would come to my rescue in time of needs... Already now when I walk with them I feel like I'm surrounded by bodyguards as I'd be the shortest and smallest among them... 
I have four sons which I expect any one of them would come to my rescue in time of needs... Already now when I walk with them I feel like I'm surrounded by bodyguards as I'd be the shortest and smallest among them... 5 people like this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
9 Oct 16
I'm just so grateful that my son was able to help me with the car, as he does with the computer. I'm also relieved that the hurricane spared us. We were wondering if there was a place to rent for the winter if the condo was at the bottom of the sea.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
9 Oct 16
@LadyDuck What a shame! I had a new Mercedes sedan that was keyed by someone. I have since been very careful where I go and park with my cars. I hope you were able to have it repaired. My brother had a Mercedes that he left in his parking garage when he lived in NYC. He was away on a business trip. When he returned, the car was gone. The police found it two weeks later, stripped. It was totaled.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
9 Oct 16
Lol! Unlike your area, we'd be stranded without a car. I also have to drive my husband, since the doctor won't allow him to drive, yet. He has always been the one to drive me when we go out. It feels so strange. Fortunately, I haven't had a car problem since the 80s.
1 person likes this
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
9 Oct 16
@DianneN you rich people with so many cars you can't keep them all running, and fancy cars also... i am stuck with just an old clunker.. lol sorry to hear you had problems ..
4 people like this
@CoolPeace (1563)
• Miami, Florida
9 Oct 16
That was good that your son came to help and he was the hero for you. Which part of Florida are you heading to?
3 people like this
@CoolPeace (1563)
• Miami, Florida
9 Oct 16
@DianneN. You are practically neighbors to me.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169528)
• United States
10 Oct 16
I feel the same way when things seem to malfunction. I hope all is well and I am glad your condo is okay.
2 people like this
! What a good son who will drop what he's doing to go save his mom @DianneN (254926)
• United States
9 Oct 16
You could have had it that day! I hated it. My son is the best that a mother could ask for. At least he did his shopping near me after he sent me on my way. He called on his way home to see if I made it home in one piece. I took it for a 20 mile drive. Lol!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
9 Oct 16
That's great your son was nearby to help you!! 
Glad it was just a battery thing!
Glad it was just a battery thing!2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
9 Oct 16
Oh darn, I was all set to drive down to pick up my new car lol All this new fangled stuff is so confusing!!
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
10 Oct 16
@DianneN Me too, the older I get , the simpler I like things lol
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91127)
• United States
9 Oct 16
I never heard of two batteries but glad that your son was able to get you up and running. I can imagine how frustrating it must have been not to be able to start the car.
Glad that your condo escaped Matthew. I was thinking of you and wondering if your place was in line with the hurricane
2 people like this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
9 Oct 16
Thanks for thinking of me. We were in line with it, but it suddenly changed route. They had us thinking our condo would wind up in the sea. We were thinking where we could rent for this winter!
My son has been such a savior the last 6+ weeks. I truly don't know how I could have managed without him.
@garymarsh6 (24028)
• United Kingdom
9 Oct 16
Oops how embarrassing. Still I am sure you son loves you just the way you are! 
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
9 Oct 16
Glad to hear that it all worked out for you. Car troubles can be frustrating. Also it is good to hear your condo didn't get hit by Matthew. When are you headed to Florida?
2 people like this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
9 Oct 16
@Happy2BeMe Thanks. We need a change of scenery, badly!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
27 Oct 16
That is one purrrrdy car! I would have freaked out if that happened to me. Calm is not one of my attributes when there is a car crisis.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
29 Oct 16
@DianneN Well it is your baby, of course you would panic a little bit.
1 person likes this
@succeednow (1632)
• Singapore
10 Oct 16
@DianneN When I first read this I was wondering that you may have gone to a wrong car! It happens sometimes. But then later I realized that was not the case. It seems strange that your car has two batteries. Most car only have one. What make is it?
1 person likes this
@succeednow (1632)
• Singapore
11 Oct 16
@DianneN Cool. I would like to have a Merz too. I understand that Merz makes good and reliable cars.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56354)
• Canada
9 Oct 16
It was a stroke of luck that it happened when your son could come to help.
I hate battery issues, we stopped about a year ago at a market, we shouldn't have because we were running late, and when we got back into the vehicle it wouldn't start.
It was the battery too, we had to wait about an hour for CAA to come to our rescue they were able to jump it and we didn't shut it off until we got to a dealership where they replaced it.
Apparently they don't last a lot longer then about 4 years we were advised.
Its great news that your place in Florida wasn't damaged from the storm.
2 people like this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
9 Oct 16
You were wise to drive your car straight to the dealership. Unfortunately for me, it was Sunday and the service department is closed. I'm sure it could have been left on the lot if need be, but at that point, I didn't care if it was stolen.
It was a stroke of luck that he rescued me. I was at my wits end. I took deep breaths before I called him, so I wouldn't cry. As soon as I heard his voice, I broke down. He told my hubby that he thought I was crying about something that happened to him. I frightened the heck out of him. Poor kid!
Our car has two new batteries! I hope they last another three years. AAA usually takes a good hour to arrive, but my car would have needed a flat bed if they couldn't fix it. More time away from my husband who depends on me for almost everything. I was so frantic.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
10 Oct 16
@DianneN - I've been wondering how things were going and how the condo was. I'm so glad it wasn't it. My parents used to have a beachfront house in Flagler Beach (my mom has dementia and they live with my sister now). My parents wanted to know how their old house was. I saw on the news that their house was OK, but the highway that ran past it was washed away in places.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Oct 16
@DianneN - Yes, but there are a lot of closed roads in the Southeast. It will take a while to repair all that infrastructure. Too bad this happened!
1 person likes this
