Penelope and the Ice

I have a car. A Honda to be exact. A Honda that we didn't have any idea whether it was an LX and EX or an SE. Turns out, for all interested parties, it's an SE. Buying brakes was an adventure since my car has decided to be anonymous and there are no identifying markers anywhere.  FYI, the brakes for one model may not work for another model. It's best to know this prior to taking off the old brake shoe, just sayin'.

My car has a name. She was an orphan without one. Penelope is actually Penelope the Second. It's not a cop-out but I kept calling her by my last car's name.  Anyway, Penelope II had not the time in Yankeeland to become accustomed to winter conditions. I bought her a mere month before moving to the Deep South in springtime. I, however, have approximately 16 years experience of driving on icy and snowy roads. I have never had any accidents, incidents or mishaps in Penelope (other than the time I was hit by a Schmuck. Literally the man's name was Schmuck and it was well worn.) in winter weather.

A couple weeks ago there was a run of really bad weather here. Temperatures were near zero with the wind chill, snow and ice poured from the sky. I had the opportunity to pick up an extra day at work in order to not use vacation time (a whole other post). The weather was predicted that day to be ice falling from the sky and the world was possibly going to end. I met boyfriend for an early breakfast and then headed into town before the roads were really bad. Ice was spitting at my windshield but Penelope II is a sturdy girl. Er...she was until we came down an exit ramp and hit the only patch of icy road between my house and work. The tires slid, we ping-ponged between curbs and ended up half off the road. Panic ensued slightly and then reason took over. I backed off the curb and we continued on to work since the car was usable even though the steering was wonky. A technical term I know.

I parked in the behemoth of a  parking garage where I work while wondering what I would do if I found a flat tire and puddle of my car's entire fluid and lubrication system upon leaving work. There's no way a tow truck would fit in that garage. Anyway, the bumper was cracked and I thought my alignment was off.

Three weeks, one abhorrent rental car, one knee, one steering rack, one alignment, countless hours of labor and a bill of $2400 (thank you Lord for parents who taught me the necessity of good car insurance!) Penelope II is back.  After shelling out almost $75 in gas alone last week, I have never been more grateful for my Honda.

Every time I've gone somewhere since picker her up on Friday I gaze lovingly at the front bumper and then give all the drivers around me the evil eye. I'll adjust eventually...I think.