2 weeks ago we left Sulphur Springs and started out to Joshua's in Graham. We were coming into McKinney on Hwy 380 and the car felt like we had hit a "rub board" place in the road. Well, there was road construction all around, so we didn't think much about it. Just a moment later, the car was like Rick had shifted into neutral - no momentum to go, but sounding like the car was being revved up. ??? Rick said that he didn't know what was going on, but we were fixing to be stranded. Sigh. We coasted about 3 miles, and just as the car was beginning to slow down to the point that we knew we were going to be on the side of the road - Rick said, "What is that company there?" We were almost to their driveway. I looked out my window and read the sign, "Sprouse Automotive, McKinney, TX" - we felt like it was a literal God-send!!! We coasted into the driveway, but because the shop sat on a slight incline above the road, we were stuck in the gate! The owner, David, came out, talked to Rick - Rick explained what happened. David got a small tractor, and chained to the car, pulled us into the yard. He looked at the car a little, said that it might be the transmission. But that he was so far behind it would be a week and half before he could even look at the car.
Rick said that was fine. But we would need to find an Enterprise Rent-a-Car so that we could get our stuff unloaded and go on out to our son's house (which is where his pick up was). David said for us to see the girl in the office, that she would help us. We go into the office. Talk to her. She found the phone number for Enterprise, the one that was closest to her shop - I was unfamiliar with the area. I called them, arranged to rent a pickup truck. Enterprise told us that they would send someone to pick us up and let us come into the office and get the truck, filling out the paperwork. Fine. I told the lady in the office at Sprouse Automotive what was going on. She said "Fine". Rick asked her how long before they could look at the car. She told Rick that due to a mechanic quitting that day at lunch, that it would be at least a week and a half. Rick said that was fine, because obviously we weren't going anywhere in the car. Enterprise showed up, asked for "the McCoy's" - we left the office, walking out to his car. This lady in the office of the shop, called to me - I had left my pink planner on her desk. I told her thank you - and that we would be right back to get our stuff out of the car. She said that was "fine". 25 minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot of Sprouse Automotive, and found our car sitting on the back of a tow truck - impounded!!! ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? I went into the office and asked her what was going on - she said that David told her to call the tow truck because we had left and she didn't know where we went, when or if we were coming back. ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? The tow truck driver said he was only doing his job, and I said, "I understand. But what you don't understand is that my husband is a dialysis patient and his machine is in that car! I have to have it before tonight!!! Plus, our meds, our clothes, even our food - all in the car." He said he was sorry, but it was his job. All the stress, I lost it. I just started crying, and crying. He said, "Lady, calm down. You can get your stuff out of the car." So, in the heat of a late summer day, I unloaded the car and transferred everything over to the rental truck. Sigh. The tow truck driver told us that he was taking the car to the impound yard, and that we could call them the next day. Gave us a card, and drove away. Now, think about it - the owner of the shop pulled our car into his yard, parked it where it was, knowing full well that it was not going to be moved without being pulled. Then, his claim as to why he had it impounded was that Rick had left it in the way and his customers didn't have room to drive around our car. ??????????????? But where he pulled us was to the side of his shop, and it wasn't like a drive-thru area either. Sigh. Many questions to the owner of Sprouse Automotive later, we drive away - continue out to Joshua and Dessie's. We were in shock of it all ... no understanding ... no explanations ... sigh. Just looking at one another is unbelief. We have been all over these great United States of America. We have had car/truck troubles in a lot of these states - all hours of the day and night. NEVER have we been treated with such cold indifference or rudeness!!! And if we had not told the owner, David, nor the lady in the office what was going on? Well, we could understand the impounding then. But, to be in such honest communication with them? To even verbally commit to allowing them to do the repair work on the car? To leave the key in the car? Sigh ... Sigh... We have been out at Joshua & Dessie's the last couple of weeks (no Internet yet). Enjoying the kids and grandkids. Laughing. Loving. Living. Rick has spent countless hours on the phone with mechanics - talking with them about what could be wrong with the car ... and the "thought" (without looking at the car yet) is that the CV joint has broken on one side. Which is not good, but a lot better than if the transmission has gone out. The CV joint will cost approx. $200, where the transmission would be approx. $1200!!! So, we hope and we pray that it is nothing worse than the CV joint. He has also spent hours on the phone with the Tow Company that impounded our car (at the request of the owner of Sprouse Automotive in McKinney, TX). The Tow Company's owner's wife told Rick that they were going to take $125 off of the initial tow - that she and her husband had talked the situation over and even they didn't understand why this had happened. So, we are thankful for that kindness. Rick talked to a lawyer, and was counseled to go ahead and get the car out of impound, paying all fees. Then, file an appeal of "No-Tow". If we find favor with the JP and win this appeal, we will have the monies returned to us. (PLEASE pray that we will find favor and will be returned the money!!!) However, the first order of business is to get the car out of impound. And we sit and we wait on the money to do this. With every day another $22 being added to the total for storage fees. The National Kidney Foundation pays Rick what he has to pay for his insurance premiums thru work - and that reimbursement check is due in any day now. Kathy (Rick's social worker) said that it should be here between October 3 and October 10. So, we wait for the phone call from her that the check waits on us. Joshua has found us a trailer we can rent for about $100 to go and get the car, towing it ourselves to the auto shop in Graham. (Plus fuel to drive 150 miles one way in a diesel pickup.) So, yes ... sigh upon sigh ... living isn't much fun at times like this. A test and trial of fire for our faith (and our marriage) that is for sure. I find it a great struggle not to worry about the money for milk and bread and meds. Sigh. Rick has been out of his phosphorus binders now for about a week ... out of his blood pressure meds today. I have been out of one of my meds for about a week now, and my left leg is swelling horribly, as well as the left leg is now weeping. Sigh. My legs were doing so much better, so this is very discouraging (and painful) for me to deal with. God's promise is that He will meet all our needs according to His riches in glory thru Christ Jesus. Yet, we sit here with a list of what seems to me to be legitimate needs ... and we lack. So, my question is -- are these truly "needs"? Or are they just "wants"? And if they are truly "needs" then where are God's riches for us? But if they are only "wants" - how do we do without? Sigh. We are so blessed in so many ways. And for those blessings we give thanks. Upon those blessings we struggle to focus. However, when the storms and fires of life are threatening to overwhelm us - all we can do is Cry Out to Jesus!!! Jesus, help us please!!! I rescheduled all our doctor appointments. Everyone was understanding - well, with the exception of Fresinius in Paris. And the nurse I talked to was insistent that we come in this week. I told her that it would cost well over $100 for us to drive there from here, which we didn't have. And that we couldn't "catch a ride" - cause no one we knew from here was going to Paris. Sigh. We are doing all we can do!!! I am very concerned about Rick - even if she did talk to me like I didn't care!!! I watch him, sometimes over-watching him, cause I irritate him with my care and worry. I know that his blood was low in September, and he had to have those iron IV's - and so, yes, I understand how important it is for him to have his blood rechecked to see how it is doing now. But what am I supposed to do? I cannot get there from here at this time. And I cannot manufacture a way to get there. Sigh. He is scheduled to go into the dialysis center on October 23. He is to see the ortho doctor on his shoulder October 30. And we are driving to Houston the afternoon/evening of October 30 - my appointments at MD Anderson is set for October 31st. Pray for us that all is good with our bodies thru all this. Pray for us please.
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