RUNNING ON EMPTY

I had an appointment ... at 7:30 a.m.


Getting to the service appointment for my car is always a real treat. I knew I had to get up extra early to make it there on time and, of course, I woke up at 2:45 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep until 5 a.m.

By 6 a.m. when I should have been well-rested and raring to go, I was out cold. I didn't wake up until 6:45, which put me 45 minutes behind.

They took my car even though I was late because it's a $500 service (ouch). To top it off, I got the last loaner that looked (and smelled) like it came from Rent a Wreck. Tired and grumpy, I was angry, but I had no right to complain.

As I looked at the stone-faced service mangers, who probably wouldn't heed my gripes anyway, I overheard one tell another woman that her car needed a new engine.

I thought he was going to fall over when she asked, "Is that serious?"

Seriously, that made my day.