For me it is my car. I love driving and riding. It is my way of feeling free and like an explorer. It brings me great happiness.

HOWEVER when my car breaks I freak. I tilt. Amazingly I can handle many of life's challenges but I feel totally helpless when my car has a problem. I make sure it has gas. I make sure the tires are okay and the fluids are changed and kept full. Other than that I haven't the least clue as to how they work or what they need.

Yesterday I was coming home from a wonderful day and my car stopped running. It felt like when your cruise control goes off only stronger. Thankfully the passenger knew that I needed to shift to neutral and NOT touch the brake. I was able to coast to the side of the road just over the bridge. The steering didn't work, nothing. Thankfully it didn't happen on the Skyway Bridge (see picture on the left) or one of the other bridges that connect to St. Petersburg. Thankfully I wasn't alone. Thankfully others knew what to do and were even able to determine it is likely something called a timing belt that has broken. Thankfully the battery was still working enough to put the top up so I didn't melt entirely while waiting for AAA. Thankfully a friend's garage was only a couple of miles away.

Even with so much to be thankful for I confess frustration that the car doesn't work. That now I have to figure out how to pay for the repairs and in the meantime I am without a car. Happily the reasons to be thankful outweigh my inconvenience and concerns. Time for more thank you prayers and time to count my many blessings. Life is happier when the focus is on the good things and positives rather than on the concerns that need to be addressed.

Drive safely.