Last Sunday, I was too sick to walk 3 blocks to get into my car, move my car to the opposite side of the street, and then walk 3 blocks back, including 2 uphill. Because I was unable to move it, I got a ticket for $66. Sixty-six dollars because I was too sick to walk to my car and back. Well, that's ridiculous. There's parking right in front of my apartment, on both sides of the street.
The problem is that this parking is residential permit parking and I don't currently have a residential permit. To get one, I would have to pay all tickets, renew registration, and pay for the sticker. The total cost of being able to park my car within a distance of my place that I can manage even when sick is: $917.50
After I get that paid, I have to get my brakes fixed, because the front passenger brake does nothing right now. This is what I need to get my car to be a functional car again. I have no idea yet how much this will cost and I am leery to drive my car to find out, since the brakes don't work well.
Those following my personal life know that I've been sick for a long time. What I haven't said is that I've been sick in a way that makes it very difficult to apply for jobs or learn new skills that I need for the jobs that I want. I now have health care and have implemented a long-term solution to the health problem that's impairing my ability to work. I am getting better but until I have a job, I can't afford to pay for things like "making my car street legal."
I've realized in the last week that I really need my car. I have been putting off going to the pharmacy for over a week because it's a 1 mile bus ride plus 13 blocks of walking. I have to ride the bus home from the grocery store and then walk 2 blocks to my apartment with food. Some days, I don't have the energy to shower. If I want to hang out with friends, I have to take a bus or a cab. That means walking several blocks and limiting the hours that I can be out. And sometimes, at the end of the night, I don't have the energy to walk back from the bus stop. I end up overexerting and being sick the next day because of it. If I don't have something to eat, I have to order delivery; if I had my car, I could pick something up instead.
I need some spoons. Getting my car in working order and parked in front of my house would be a huge help in terms of spoon conservation. It would also allow me to be more social by allowing me to get out of the house with minimal physical effort. It would also greatly decrease my parking ticket expenses, since I could park in the always ok zones on my street.
I love my car. She's been smooshed, stolen, keyed, and shot. She's been attacked with a crowbar twice and broken into a dozen times. She's led an exciting life. Her life would be even more exciting if I could move her further than across the street and back for street cleaning in the open parking area 3 blocks away and 12 cars long.
If you would like to donate towards getting my car working, you can paypal petti at petticoatdespot dot com or use one of the donate buttons.
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