-
Disability Adds Complexity
Last week I alluded to van trouble with our 2010 Chrysler Town & Country. Well, it’s a little more extensive than the wheel baring we initially thought. A funny noise and service engine soon light prompted a visit to the mechanic. He then referred us to a transmission place after hearing not one but two suspicious noises. Upon further inspection with his diagnostic tools and a drive around the block the transmission guy advised Mom she shouldn’t be driving it. Great.
For those of you who aren’t mechanical, the transmission is a major part that’s quite expensive. A lot of times if the transmission goes out the best option is to go ahead and get a different set of wheels. Not so easy when you’re talking about a converted vehicle. Not only are accessible vehicles hard to come by they’re expensive themselves. If you don’t decide on a new vehicle the two options are to rebuild the tranny or replace it. Because of the importance of the van to us we didn’t want to take a chance rebuilding it, so we’re having it replaced.
Simply to get the transmission in will take 7 to 10 days. Of course that meant an alternative way to get to Mom’s for the holiday weekend. I would’ve stayed home if I had caregiver coverage, but no one wants to work on a holiday (or ever really.) Luckily I could still schedule public transportation to get there. Once I was there though I couldn’t go anywhere. I can’t just catch a ride with friends and riding in the truck-bed didn’t seem like a safe option. Therefore our plans came to a screeching halt. We spent most of the weekend unsuccessfully trying to think of something fun to do. Not to mention it was an extra day because the bus didn’t run Monday because of the holiday. We did binge-watch The Great Food Truck Race. You know, living vicariously through a TV show.
Throwing disability into the mix just adds that extra complexity to the situation. Would you have made the same decisions? We’re doing the best we can and just rolling with it, but it’s not easy and it’s expensive.