Simple Having a Wonderful Christmas Time

Okay. Christmas.

Everything was looking good. We had off work Friday and Monday, and we both took Tuesday as well. We were going to stay Thursday night through Saturday morning at her Mom's house, then head to my parents again on Saturday night, returning on Tuesday.

Before we left for DC, my stupid check engine came on again. I have a Mazda 3 Hatchback which is constantly having problems with check engine lights coming on all the time. They always tell me it's just an emissions thing and it's fine to drive on it because they need to wait a few days for whatever part they're ordering to come in.

So, I didn't bother setting an appointment for it until Monday after Washington, at which time they told me to bring it in on Thursday. As I said, they don't seem to worry about the check engine light that much, so...

Well, I took it in on Thursday. I told them I was going away for the weekend and I was going to need a car for a while. Well, they said that the warranty may not cover that long of a hold on the car, so, they asked me to wait so they could check it out.

So, I waited for 3 hours. I forgot my cell phone at home, so, I couldn't call my boss and tell him it was going to be longer than I expected. When I got the car back, they said it was fixed, whatever it was that was wrong with it, so, I went to work.

When I left work, the damn light came back on. Too late to call them that night, so, I had to wait until Friday, my day off at S.'s house. When I called them they asked me to bring it in again, so, once more I drive 45 miles to my dealership so they can tinker again.

After another couple hours they tell me that they replaced the metered air flow sensor again. They replaced that one with a $400 bill to me a month or so ago. No charge on it for me this time.

I drove to the mall to do some last minute Christmas shopping. When I left the mall, the damn light is back on! So, I drove it right back to the dealership, which is only a few miles away.

They finally put me into a rental for the weekend.

What does Enterprise put me in?

Another Mazda 3.

Whatever. At this point I just want this damn car to work for a couple weeks without the lights coming on so I can trade it in.

Anyway, it's Friday. I've been gone all day from S. and her mom. I stopped by my house to pick up a couple things on the way back that I had forgotten the day prior.

When I got to their place, they ordered some food out, which I ate with them while finishing my wrapping.

That's when I notice that there's a voice mail on my cell phone.

It's the Ex. Telling me that her mother is dying.

I call her back and find out that her mother (who was diagnosed with several inoperable aneurysms on her aorta a couple years ago) was bleeding into her abdomin and wasn't expected to survive the night. They flew her from Hanover, PA to Johns Hopkins Medical Center via a helicopter to attempt surgery on her.

The next morning I spoke with Ex again. While in surgery they were either removing or placing a clamp on her aorta, but the stress was too much for her. She entered into cardiac arrest and died during surgery.

The doctor came out to her, her sister and father with her glasses and wedding band, blood splattered across his legs. When they went in to see her, she was covered in blood and the hoses were still down her throat.

She was cremated without services per her wishes.

What a great way to start the Christmas holiday, huh?

Her father decided to continue with Christmas, cooking the food and exchanging gifts.

Very sad and sobering.

On Friday night, after I got the initial news, I went back to my house to get my suit. It wasn't until Saturday morning (Christmas Eve) that I discovered that there would be no service.

I thought a bit about my grandfather on that ride, remembering how he looked while he died. I was hoping Ex wouldn't have to experience anything like that, but it seemed to be much worse.

My heart goes out to her and her family.

Well, back to Christmas.

I gave S. an armoire for Christmas on Christmas Eve with her family. Unfortunately, the a-hole who loaded it at Boscov's loaded it on it's side and broke one of the glass doors on it. So, we need to return it this week.

I made out like a bandit. Lots and lots of DVD's. I'm a Moviephile. Love them.

And, the icing on the cake? S. got me tickets to see Spamalot on Broadway. Shwing!

On Tuesday I called the dealership - they were on the phone with Mazda trying to figure out what's wrong. Called on Wednesday, they think it's a wiring collar or something, so, it's on order. I'll probably pick it up this weekend.

That's about it for now. All the sorrow, chaos and fun of Christmas.

What a year...