My Lifeline ~J.Pearson

I am a very simplistic individual and I try to do things in a simple fashion. I never really cared about designer clothing or fancy cars, having what I needed did just fine. The one thing that keeps me going is my car and I never really understood how the life of my car effected the life of me. Before I had my car I walked everywhere,to the store, to sub shops, and occasionally to my boyfriend's house. Other than that, there was a huge limit on the places that were possible for me to travel on foot. I thought I was happy until the day I received my Provisional License. I remember that day because my provisionals became my newly found resource to explore my walking limitations. Now I could do the majority of shopping and sight-seeing all on my very own. Now, with a brand new card in my wallet, of course I had to show off to anyone who cared. I drove around to various places where I knew my family and friends would be and I would whip my wheels like a pro. I loved my car and the freedom that it gave me, but surely enough it all came to an end. My newly found gift became more of a curse than anything else.

All of a sudden I had all these bills that came out of no where. I had to pay my cell phone bill, car insurance, and gas expenses; and that was just the basics. Then all of a sudden, I had to pay for a new battery, an oil change, a master cylinder, brake pads, and something about a clogged ventilation system. On top of all that, my daily walks around town were cut down to a bear minimum and i put on a few pounds because of it. So because I was not as healthy as I once was, I started to get sick all the time and I ended up missing days from school. In addition to getting sick, my car broke down a few times and my hours at work were cut back. Having a car was nice at first, but after all of the expenses and riding around, I began to really hate my car. Unfortunately, I could not quit driving because somehow I became responsible for getting my siblings from A to B. Fortunately, I stuck with it and realized that driving is a privilege for me and I should except the fact that I have a vehicle that I am solely responsible for. My car has prepared me for the basics of becoming an adult and my car became yet another milestone in my life. So the question remains, how is my car my lifeline? And my answer is this: life is one constant struggle, there are going to be bills to pay, unexpected expenses, and many responsibilities along the way. Interestingly enough, having a car gave me a brief glimpse at the future and what I would be accountable for. In short, I love my car and I am grateful for the life lessons I learned along the way.