Car Thoughts

I have been having trouble with my car. The battery keeps going dead. After having all my car guys poking around in it for a couple of months, I finally bought a new battery hoping that would fix the issue.

Then I happily trundled up to Kennewick to meet my new grandson and spend time with my daughter and her family. When I jumped in the car to head home .... my battery was dead. Frustrated, but thankful my son in law was there with the jumper cables, I was soon jumped and on my way back home.

After consulting with my car guys back home I finally decided to make an appointment with the dealership and get this issue solved for once and for all. So early Tuesday morning I headed to Salem and explained what was happening and began the long wait. After only a couple of hours they came and told me they had checked the car over and there was nothing wrong with it. When I asked why the battery was going dead then, he said, " We do not know".

I sat there in disbelief as he made a long list of servicing and things that could be done to the car. I was soon on my way back home with the same problems that I had brought with me. So I had driven two hours, waited two hours and spent $115 only to be told there was nothing wrong with my car ... only the battery keeps going dead.

So I headed back to my local car guys and told them the dealership mechanic had said "nothing was wrong with my car." As he was laughing and ducking the items I was throwing at him, he did point out that something was certainly wrong with the car, they just did not know what it was. By the time i had left his place, I had made a couple of decisions. First, I need a AAA membership. Secondly, I need a set of jumper cables or a jump box to carry with me all the time.

So even though I do not have a solution to what ever the issue is at this time, at least I have a strategy. And of course the car guys are still full ideas of what they can look at next.

Of course they are also laughing at the need to attempt to teach me to use a jump box charger on the car. .... sigh .. somehow I cannot see this turning out well ... or with any dignity.

But who needs dignity at this point?

Just Connie

The Cough

The cough shook my body and I laid my head down on my desk and sighed. It was becoming evident that the infection was coming back after only a week off antibiotics. Picking up the phone I called my family doctor and was soon sitting across from him in the examining room.

He soon confirmed my fear and put me back on another month of antibiotics. I left with a feeling of discouragement. I had been on a constant round of antibiotics for the last four years as I fought infection after infection. When they finally discovered my immune system deficiency I was almost relieved. Over the past month I have been learning the process of gamma globulin infusions which will eventually give me the antibodies I need to fight infection.

There are times when I resent the constant fatigue and the time which my illness steals from me. But then I am reminded that "I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me". Tonight I am reflecting on that and letting determination and hope refill the empty tired places within me.

This too shall pass ...

Just Connie

Fire on the 4th of July

It was blistering hot, when my pager went off. I picked up the phone saying, "Please don't be a fire, please don't be a fire". I looked at the screen and saw, "Wild land Fire". I jumped in my car and headed to the station where I threw my turnouts in the back of the fire rig and headed out of the parking lot with the lights flashing. Driving quickly towards the scene I could see the column of smoke curling over the hill, long before I got there.

I parked the rig at the foot of the hill and began the long, long trek up the hill to the fire which had now moved to involve a house. By the time I reached the top I was soaked with sweat and looking for the nearest piece of shade. When I had recovered I began walking the scene and snapping photos.

The day wore on as the stubborn fire kept burning. Energy flagged and the heat was exhausting. Crews were swapped out quicker and quicker aas the heat took its toll.

About 2 hours in the fire, Channel 12 showed up and I had the joy of hiking back down the mile long driveway to meet with them. When I told them that they would have to walk back up the driveway way with me, I thought the camera man was going to cry. By then it was about 100 degrees. But the deputy took pity on us and drove us up the hill. Over the next 30 minutes I answered questions and talked about what we knew of the origin of the fire. (Fireworks caused)

But finally, 5 hours later I was standing in the home with the Chief and the homeowner. I looked down and we were standing in ankle deep water, (that you could still see the once beautiful hardwood floors beneath) water was streaming down on us through the holes in the roof that had to be cut to vent the fire. We slowly walked through together as the homeowner came to terms with his loss.

Then it was time to head back to the station and begin the process of paperwork and media calls. Including a call from the sheriff himself  requesting me to get all of these media people taken care of because they were calling him! It was about then that I went to the restroom to wash my hands for the meal that was being prepared and looked in the mirror. I marched out of the restroom and said to the guys, "Not one of you could have told me that my face was covered in soot?" They laughed and it was impossible to not laugh with them. And it felt so very good to laugh. But finally everything was done, all the media had what they needed until I had edited my photos and began the press releases. But that could wait till tomorrow.  So it was about 10:30 when I drug myself out of the station and headed home, sweaty, sooty and very smelly.

As I gratefully threw my freshly showered and scrubbed self on the bed I reflected on the day and everything I experienced. I am so thankful to be able to minister at such a critical time in people's lives. I hope that the victims and the crews can feel my love and support in real and tangible ways.

I really think I have the bet job in the world! And tomorrow I preach! It is a good life ...

Just Connie