“So what happens to your blog now that you’ve purchased a car?” my sister “Barbie” asks me.
“We just become a Car-Light Family,” I reply.
Yikes. Did we just do this?
My symptoms have been increasing by the day, and it looks like we are getting closer to a diagnosis on all this pain and wobbliness. Not sciatica. Not MS. Not ALS. Not LUPUS. Not Chronic Fatigue.
Lyme Disease. From a bite over 20 years ago, before they were talking about Lyme Disease. So, we caved into the pressures of the world. No, wait, we didn’t do that. We looked practically at our lives, winter, stress and my illness and bought “The Little Red Wagon” from our next-best-thing-to-Amish friends, Mark & Annie.
They have been lightly fanning the car in front of us for over a year.
“It’s in the garage waiting for you. Whenever you are ready.”
I’m ready. I don’t want to be ready. I want to figure it out. I want to be car-free. I also want to get where I need to get when the pain makes it so I can barely walk, so this is what we’ve done.
I told dancer husband that I thought we needed to think about “Mark’s Car”. Within days he was on the phone, getting it done. He is in the beautiful, beautiful car, on his way home.
We knew it would be a Volvo. We hoped it would be a wagon. I secretly wanted it to be red.
I’m trying not to think of this latest move as a failure. We still think of ourselves as a car-light family, and will continue to document our new life. This process has really been about the intention. We want to live more authentically, slow down, live interdependently and with a greater consciousness of the way we damage the planet. Today I did two things to keep that intention, both before I even saw the Little Red Wagon. First, I set up a car-pool with Boychoir, which started with tonight’s rehearsal. Next, I let a family across the street know that we bought a car and it would be available to them if they wanted to ride somewhere, needed to get somewhere, etc. They dropped down to one car when their second car was totaled last spring. It is about intentional living still, and how do we do it with a car? Stick with me?
October 21, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Of course I’ll stick with you!
I’m glad you’re taking care of yourself and considering your needs.
October 21, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I’m still with you — especially since we’re on our own “car-light” adventure.
I’m glad that you did what was necessary to take care of yourself. Lyme disease is serious stuff. Hope you’re feeling stronger soon!
October 22, 2008 at 12:22 am
I’ll stick with you too!
Its good to have a diagnosis,right?
If the car helps you manage your health, then that’s what needs to be done. I am sure The Big One will still bike now that he’s tasted the freedom of independent mobility.
Your red wagon matches your scooter. Nice!
October 22, 2008 at 10:29 am
We are also a car-lite family with one 4 wheeled and 1 2 wheeled vehicle. It is harder to be car-lite than car-free due to having to more diligent in your choices. We will be sticking with you for sure.
Namaste,
The Quinces
October 22, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Now you have no excuse. The Big One can join my book clubs. 4:30 to 5:00 PM on the 27 of Jan. and the 24 of Feb. Take care of that Lyme stuff, it could be very nasty.
October 26, 2008 at 11:39 pm
I feel for ya on the Lyme…I might have it…well I might not! They aren’t really sure what I may have these days!
Congrats on being so savvy with the biking thing. I wish I was more like that! I used to bike everywhere until I got my drivers license and for some reason my parents decided to buy me a car…darnit…that wrecked it all!
britta