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Whole Again ~ Another Chapter, Certainly Not the Last, In the Smart Car Saga


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So we are whole and complete again to the point that we were allowed to bed down with the ‘big boys’ on I95 last night. Florida’s provision of night time security at interstate rest stops makes good sense. Not all states do it that way; makes more sense to provide the service to and for truckers (and travelers) rather than to prohibit the over-night use of rest areas. Again the question of whether or not you can legislate human behavior, but I digress …

A shout out and thank you to one Juan Flores of Smart Center Weston.  This young man dealt with frustrations, disappointments and setbacks, of no one’s particular making, while we waited for our tow car to be repaired. The frustrations and disappointments and then the resulting emotions on our part and his were dealt with in a consistent, controlled and professional manner.  He will go far in his chosen endeavors in life; he seems to have those ‘people skills’ that one may only be born with.

So the Smart Car saga chapter!

The steering rod part from Germany finally arrives and is installed.  We arrive at Smart Center Weston late afternoon close to the cessation of the business day. It turns out that unbeknownst to us (how come?) Horace Mann, our insurance company, has sent the big check meant for Smart Center Weston to our home address in northern New Hampshire.  We do not intend to be there for another couple of months. Frantic phone calls to Horace Mann and the passing of cell phones and Tax ID numbers back and forth between Juan and I and Horace Mann result in a plan.  The car will be released to us no matter what, that afternoon (now quickly turning into that evening), the big Horace Mann check sitting in our mail box probably soaking wet and or frozen solid from the blizzards in the northeast of late will have a stop payment placed on it taking 24 to 48 hours, and a second big big check will be cut by Horace Mann to Smart Center of Weston, once the stop payment is in place, and over-nighted to Smart Center Weston (who knows how long the overnight will take, as we have learned).

Whew!  Yikes! Scary!

Without that car being released to us we would either be stuck waiting another week or leaving a big chunk of our funds hanging out there until everything cleared.  Ah but all is well and the car is released to us.

The car has been on the alignment rack. Good! A Smart Center Weston staff has driven it around the lot and pronounced it road worthy. Great! We have signed all the paperwork and written a check for the insurance deductible. Grand! Now it is late and dark but we can sense that we will released and on the road again, free and untethered, shortly. The dealership is shutting down around us. Juan departs.  The mechanic offers to help get the tow package set up and attached but we demur and he is gone. The tow package is finally set up (minus one finger tip) and the wiring harness set.  The Westfalia started up and lights go on. Lo and behold all is well between both vehicles except for the rear driving light on the driver’s side, the damaged and repaired side of the Smart Car. Debbie and I sense the worst once again. Damn, stuck another night in southern Florida. We soldier on with our diagnostics and undo the wiring harness between the vehicles to find that the malfunction is in the Smart Car. Small consolation, but still. Seemingly everyone has left the Smart Car Center but a light is still on; the General Manager, a young pert gal who I only know as Raquel is still at her desk. She startles as I walk in and explain where we are at.  In a take charge manner she is up and out the door striding towards the offending Smart Car. I-Phone in hand calling Juan, I am not sure whether she intends to kick the crap out of the vehicle out of pure frustration or what. Instead she starts that problem solving logic common to all good mechanics while removing pieces and parts of the vehicle, deductive and inductive reasoning flying right and left, to get at the offending light bulb. Off she strides into the darkened dealership to emerge with a new bulb. She repeats the process finding it easier than the first time and … ‘viola’ … a functional lighting package. We are truly whole again.  Raquel is immensely pleased with herself as are we with her.  This must not be part of her normal job description. She questioned herself repeatedly at the outset, urged herself on as the job commenced and expressed some pride when she finished the job successfully. Thank you, Raquel!

A final leaving and we exchange business cards. I did not realize that Raquel was in fact Raquel Case, and I am guessing here, daughter of Rick Case, owner of multiple automobile dealerships within that area. One competent young lady following in her dad’s footsteps.

We are on the road. It is raining and we are closing in on I10. Gettin’ ready to go west to the bayous!

I 95 N, a rest area south of Port St Lucie near midnight

Categories: Uncategorized
Posted by bigdawg on January 25, 2011
2 Comments Post a comment
  1. 02/8/2011

    Very nice, I couldn’t stop reading and looking at the great photography until the very end. I’m glad you enjoyed Rocky & Carlo’s. If you are still in town, you may want to visit Drago’s in Metairie, for the best char broiloed Oysters you will ever eat in your life.

    Reply
  2. 02/8/2011
    bigdawg

    Thanks Dave! You are part of what is good about NOLA.

    Reply

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