1.26.2011

Yesterday we left for work and hopped in the Kia, as usual, only the Kia didn't sound like she usually does. She sounded awful. We seriously wondered if a squirrel or a cat had crawled in and got stuck inside our engine block. But no, this was the Kia's cry for some TLC. Yes, we've been largely neglecting her. She gets oil and batteries and tires but the suggested things the manual encourages you to do? Nada. We've discussed it so often since we paid her off in August... do we get her tuned up or do we put a down-payment on another vehicle? The sticky-lock issue is a daily irritation but the savings account is a nice affirmation. And yet, when we heard that sound yesterday, the conversation wasn't 'are we going car shopping tonight', it was 'can the garage fit us in'. We weren't ready to let her go. The piggy bank is a little sore today but the Kia is purring along just fine. She just needed a little love. You know, three belts, spark plugs and even a fancy-dancy oil-additive. She's been good to us and we're hoping she can stick it out a little while longer.