Life can be so full of ups and downs.
Thursday began about as down as you can get. I got an e-mail from Illinois telling me that a friend had passed away. Mrs. H was Dina's (Jerusalem Hills Daily Photo) teacher and loving friend. Dina introduced Mrs. H to us and throughout our kids' young lives, spent many happy times in her woods. It was sad to hear she was no longer with us. Her memory will live on in our hearts, but for today, our hearts felt very heavy.
We went to tai-chi and spent a peaceful, beautiful time with Master Pong and many of the members of our tai-chi class. We've gotten very close with a number of the people in our happy group. We ended up staying very late to chat with two other couples.
Picked up our tofu at Honda Tofu. Our mood was lifting.
Went to Costco. Shopped quickly. Had half a hot dog and a latte freeze. Some tai-chi people were there and told us to take their table since they were leaving and the place was crowded. Another couple we knew recognized us and came to chat.
We were very happy and the day was bright and clear.
Got to our Prius. It wouldn't start. What?
Called AAA. They said they'd send a tow truck. We waited and then got back in the car. Art tried the ignition again. It started. What the heck?
Called AAA. Cancelled the tow truck.
Gas was low so we decided to go to the Navy gas station before heading home to drop off the fresh tofu. Filled the car. Started the ignition. Nothing.
What?
Called Servco Toyota. The girl said we should call AAA and have the car towed to the dealership. "Don't jump start it," she said. "If you jump start it we won't know what's wrong with it. You can leave the car there. The next appointment is in about five days."
Called AAA....again. They said they would send a tow truck, but they wouldn't be able to drop me off at home first with the tofu before going to the dealership. Art was planning to jog home from the dealership. I did not want to jog in the hot sun. I wouldn't even jog in the dark. However, I was resigned to walking home for a couple of miles anyway.
The tow truck person came and said he could jump start it. I was all for it. Woo hoo! Love that tow truck guy!
We drove the Prius home, dropped me off with the tofu and Art took the car to the dealership.
The dealership Art took it to apologized profusely and said they would fix it in an hour while Art waited in the air conditioned office. (This was a different dealership from the one he called earlier.) The best part was that it was covered in the warranty. Apparently it was a defective cell in the smaller whatchamacallit battery.
Really? Free?
It's been a day of downs and ups and downs and ups. But then, isn't life just like this?
We did end the day with Art buying a 30 pound watermelon.
I'm picturing Mrs. H smiling down at us right now.... and we're smiling right back.
Thursday began about as down as you can get. I got an e-mail from Illinois telling me that a friend had passed away. Mrs. H was Dina's (Jerusalem Hills Daily Photo) teacher and loving friend. Dina introduced Mrs. H to us and throughout our kids' young lives, spent many happy times in her woods. It was sad to hear she was no longer with us. Her memory will live on in our hearts, but for today, our hearts felt very heavy.
We went to tai-chi and spent a peaceful, beautiful time with Master Pong and many of the members of our tai-chi class. We've gotten very close with a number of the people in our happy group. We ended up staying very late to chat with two other couples.
Picked up our tofu at Honda Tofu. Our mood was lifting.
Went to Costco. Shopped quickly. Had half a hot dog and a latte freeze. Some tai-chi people were there and told us to take their table since they were leaving and the place was crowded. Another couple we knew recognized us and came to chat.
We were very happy and the day was bright and clear.
Got to our Prius. It wouldn't start. What?
Called AAA. They said they'd send a tow truck. We waited and then got back in the car. Art tried the ignition again. It started. What the heck?
Called AAA. Cancelled the tow truck.
Gas was low so we decided to go to the Navy gas station before heading home to drop off the fresh tofu. Filled the car. Started the ignition. Nothing.
What?
Called Servco Toyota. The girl said we should call AAA and have the car towed to the dealership. "Don't jump start it," she said. "If you jump start it we won't know what's wrong with it. You can leave the car there. The next appointment is in about five days."
Called AAA....again. They said they would send a tow truck, but they wouldn't be able to drop me off at home first with the tofu before going to the dealership. Art was planning to jog home from the dealership. I did not want to jog in the hot sun. I wouldn't even jog in the dark. However, I was resigned to walking home for a couple of miles anyway.
The tow truck person came and said he could jump start it. I was all for it. Woo hoo! Love that tow truck guy!
We drove the Prius home, dropped me off with the tofu and Art took the car to the dealership.
The dealership Art took it to apologized profusely and said they would fix it in an hour while Art waited in the air conditioned office. (This was a different dealership from the one he called earlier.) The best part was that it was covered in the warranty. Apparently it was a defective cell in the smaller whatchamacallit battery.
Really? Free?
 |
| Mrs. H., Jon and Tif in H's woods |
We did end the day with Art buying a 30 pound watermelon.
I'm picturing Mrs. H smiling down at us right now.... and we're smiling right back.
Oh Kay, this is so nice! Really, how lucky we were (are?) to have a Mrs. H in our lives. And she felt it was a great privilege to know and love three generations of your family. She could hardly say your name to me without having tears of emotion at what wonderful people you are.
ReplyDeleteLH would approve of your day of tai-chi and Prius. She loved everything and everyone "Oriental" and loved environment-friendly things.
As always, I love your closing line here. Yes, let us try to keep our dear friend smiling by living up to her high expectations and following her shining example.
She really set a beautiful example for all of us in her kindness to everyone and respect (and guardianship) of Nature. I was hoping she could watch KC grow up too. You were truly a daughter to her, Dina. That is how she thought of you. She was lucky to have you always there watching out for her even from across the ocean. Those days of all of us being together at her woods will always be a treasured memory.
DeleteShe was thrilled to watch KC growing even for these few years. Tiffany was so sweet to take KC all the way out to the woods to visit.
DeleteI have half a century of memories with Mrs. H. and all good.
Didn't we all plant some saplings together once (as if there were not enough trees in the woods)?
As a matter of fact, we did plant a Rosebud with her in front. It did survive to flower unlike the one we planted at our house that fell with a strong gust of wind. She sure did have a woods full of trees, deer, and every kind of forest animal.
DeleteI love how she donated her entire property to the state to be maintained as a natural area and nature center where children could go to learn about their environment. It's perfect! I'd like to go and visit in a year or so to see how the state takes care of it.
that was a roller coaster day.I'm so sorry for the passing of your friend.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure MRs. H wouldn't mind another up and down day to experience "life". It's great you have friends to brighten the way and experiences to teach you patience...lol!
ReplyDeleteThat's a sweet picture of Mrs. H and the kids. I hope her passing was peaceful. She sounds like she was a gem of a friend. That Prius business is just the way cars are, sometimes... even environmentally friendly ones. Hope your weekend is more of the UP variety! :-)
ReplyDeleteDear Kay and Art -- So sorry for the loss of your friend. She looks so cute peaking out from the tree with Jon and Tiffany. Remember the good times. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteSorry for your loss. The loss of a good friend can be so very hard.
ReplyDeleteGlad the car is working.
We know when we've had a day mom would have enjoyed laughing over. How nice Mrs. H was that sort of woman, too. Up for anything. We miss them.
ReplyDeleteThis is just like life, Dear Kay. So sorry for your loss, but I like the idea of your 30 pound watermelon and thinking of your friend smiling upon you.
ReplyDeleteLove your header photo of your children sleeping, it is so beautiful.
You have more than one Toyota dealer in your little part of the world? Amazing!
ReplyDeleteMy condolences on the loss of your friend. It does make us sad to lose a good friend.
Actually, I think there's four or five, maybe six Toyota dealerships on Oahu. I think.
DeleteOMG. Am I to assume everyone drives a Toyota, then? We have one Toyota dealership in Fresno. I have a Subaru and the dealership just sold out to a large conglomerate which makes me so sad as there is only one Subaru dealership in town, too. You are fortunate to have choices.
DeleteLots of people in Hawaii do drive Toyotas. However, Art just reminded me that all those Toyota dealers here are owned by one company, Servco. This means there's no real competition at all. Ah well.
DeleteSo sorry for the loss of your friend. Life has ups and downs but most often not so many in the same day!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness! You just bought the Prius relatively recently. I hope it's not a chronic problem. So far, we have had absolutely no trouble with our Camry! Knock on wood.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's not a chronic problem. Sounds like it was a fluke in one of the cells of the small battery that starts the ignition and lights the dashboard. Whatever the case, they took care of it quickly and the BEST part of it is that it was still under warranty. :-)
DeleteLove the header...I am so sorry for the loss of your friend...Michelle
ReplyDeleteSorry for your loss and heavy heart.
ReplyDeleteBeing stranded in hot weather with fresh tofu is a stresser. The only other worse situation is ice cream. It's always a stresser to buy ice cream from a store in Kapolei and hope we make it home in time. We carry a collapsable freezer bag in the car with us at all times, and when we plan to grocery shop we carry an ice chest too. That helps keep our blood pressure down too lol
L. from W.
In Hawaii, I guess we all have to carry some kind of cooler in the car. We have a small one always in the car but there was no blue ice in it. Bringing ice cream home from the commissary is always a stresser for us. We try to make sure we don't get caught in traffic.
DeleteAlways get a second opinion even on car repairs. It was good to go to a different dealership.
ReplyDeleteSad for the loss of your friend.
so sorry for the loss of your good friend.
ReplyDeleteglad you were able to get your car fixed under warranty. it's fortunate you could go to another dealership. sounds like they tried to work with you better. and i can't forget your tai- chi class. it's good you were able to find some time to yourselves and relax. have a great day~
Hello Kay,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to read about the loss of your good friend. I am surprised how two dealership react to the same problem. I am glad the day ended well.
Best wishes,
Joseph
yea, my battery went out tonight. Fortunately it was in the basement garage, otherwise ....
ReplyDeleteYou do write the dearest postings. It always feels like I'm in your living room, or that we are talking on the phone.
ReplyDeleteAwwww... thank you, Nan. Writing posts and hearing from you all really does feel like having a wonderful conversation with the world.
DeleteA 30 pound watermelon?!!! Wow. Glad you didn't have to carry that home!
ReplyDeleteAnd... we're still eating it.
ReplyDelete