Yep.  Finally the taste of victory, and I will savor every single drop.  I know all too well these moments don’t come often.

Sandwiched between way too many doctor visits this summer, were a few other pressing problems.

We need a new roof.  Well, that one is cut and dried.  Pension loan.  Money available – job before the winter.

The bay window in the front of the house needs to be replaced.  That one, not as easy.  Lots of paperwork to participate in a class action lawsuit where apparently lots of these windows have leaked.  WAITING, and following up, and WAITING, as the wood shrinks and peels.

And then there was the car.

The car we bought in December after this happened in November.

The slightly, (but not too fancy because who was ready for a car payment?) upgraded car, was the same make and the next model up.  It included more space, and XM radio capability, and the ability to have a navigation system in the car if we decided to subscribe.

If you have spent more than 5 minutes with me you know I can barely find my way out of a paper bag.

In the midst of being tired, and sore, and frustrated about the accident, I was THRILLED to have a navigation in the car.

The navigation was also connected to a blue tooth that went right through the car speakers.  My phone synced to the car and I could talk without worry.

I was thrilled – when I wan’t frustrated.  Or lost.  Or left dropping calls, or using my Iphone to take me places.

The car wasn’t working right very early in the game.  We ignored the “glitches” for a few months thinking it would get better.

Then in April it made its first trip in for service- only to be declared healthy.

Until it wasn’t.

Then it went back in.  This time a new radio.

Nope – that wasn’t it.

And so on and so on and so on and so on.

I drove more rental cars this summer than I ever want to drive in my life.

During one stretch the car spent 11 days in the service station.  They said they couldn’t fix it.

They called in the field tech (“Magic Wand Guy.”)  He said it was fine.

Nope.  Not fine.  My Iphone is full of voice memos of me trying to get places.  It took us 18 minutes to get started on the trip to the Philadelphia Zoo.

At one point I drove around the neighborhood giving it addresses.  It was 2 for 10.

And the sound on the blue tooth just kept getting worse.

I didn’t know much about the Lemon Law, except that it exists.  But hidden inside the glove box of my car was a handy book explaining it.  It also gave me detailed instructions on how to file a claim (free of charge) to be arbitrated by the Better Business Bureau.

I read.

In between trips back and forth to NYC for doctors, I read and I learned, and I first tried a letter to Corporate Office.  The deliver confirmation says it was received July 22.  I wonder when it hit the shredder?

Next, I opened a case with the Better Business Bureau.  They closed it when “Magic Wand Guy” was coming to fix the car.  After he declared it fine, and before I even drove it off the property, I tried the system again.  Still broken.  I reopened the case.

When they ask what we would like to solve the problem my husband said, “Tell them we want a new car.”  I was really hesitant.  He explained his fears that the problem that no one could seem to fix likely lay deep in the central computer.  I trusted him.

It took so many hours to prepare the documents.  I wrote a narrative that was over 10 pages.  I faxed.  I Emailed.

All of this in between dragging ourselves back and forth to the dealer in between doctors.

Today it paid off.

I finally got that call from corporate.

They are replacing the car.  No out of pocket cost to us at all.  We went tonight to decide on a color.  The VIN number has been assigned to us.  7-10 days for the paperwork.

Then I drop off the old car and drive away with the new one.

If you asked me in July if I would ever buy another car from these people again, I likely would have said, HELL NO!

However, with so much time spent together I developed a respect for the Service Manager.  And, in the end he was our advocate.

And tonight, while we filled out papers, with no commission to be made, the salesman was kind.  He was friendly and patient.  He was personable and understanding.  He got that WE matter.

We chose black.  Time for a color change.

So many things go wrong, so often.  Hanging onto the anger will make you sick.  And, well – we haven’t got time for that.

Sipping my t+Chai I have peace.

Talking on the phone to my father before he told me a story.  The day Meghan had her hand surgery, I had to go drop the car for the (millionth) time.  I was stressed about leaving her, and about the whole mess.  He told me tonight she said, “I don’t know why Mommy’s so upset.  She’ll get this taken care of.”

Tonight when I was so happy she said, “I never doubted you.”

Her confidence.  Whatever I did, by whatever grace I have it- I hope to keep it for a long time.  It’s quite the compliment.

I don’t keep a win/loss column.  It would be too distressing.  But tonight – we win.  And for tonight, that’s just plenty.