VW

Wednesday I took the kids up to Eden Park to scout out locations for my upcoming 10.20.30. shoot and just to waste some time and get out of the house after lunch.  It was ridiculously hot, so I didn't plan on staying long.  Just something to pass the time.
Then the brakes in my car got... squishy.  That's the only way I can describe it.  The brakes would eventually respond and slow the car to a stop, but it's like they had to press through a jello-filled pillow in order to do so.  So I called AAA and my dad to come rescue us.
Having children around during unpleasant minor emergencies like this does wonders for my outlook on life.  Left to my own devises, I am skeptical, I sometimes lean toward the negative, I am a bit pessimistic, and a lot worrywart.  Honestly, had I been out alone, I would have been swearing up a storm, possibly crying, definitely angry.  With the kids, though, I had to keep my tongue and my attitude in check.  It was an adventure.  We bought a can of orange soda at the concession stand (for a DOLLAR.  That's right, a DOLLAR for a CAN of soda.  I had hoped to get an Icee, but that was like a bajillion bucks) and sat in the shade and all took turns sipping the usually-forbidden-by-mommy treat from the straw while waiting for Pop to come to our aide. (It is so fortunate that we were at the park.  Aside from being miserably hot, we were fine.  We could play outside!  If we had been on the side of the highway, stuck in the car, the situation might have bordered on disastrous...)
  
Then dad got there, we got the car seats squeezed into the back of the Cavalier (and I thought the back of a Volkswagen was tight!).  A while later the tow truck finally came.  Dad got out to meet the guy and the sky opened up and the rain came down like a giant bucket had been overturned.  It hasn't stormed like that in weeks.  Of course it would rain on this day.  Hearing the rain hit the soft convertible top of the Cavalier reminded me of camping as a kid in that old canvas tent (that Dad had camped in as a kid).  Iris and I sang, "It's Raining, It's Pouring" while Dad got drenched in the driving rain.

Anyway.  That's the story.  And I am still waiting to hear back from the mechanic.  I would love to tell them to just forget about it, sell it for parts, and buy a minivan (or Ford Freestyle...) but that'll never be able to happen.  We're gonna be stuck with that car forever.