Escapades in adulting - the car battery

As far as owning a car goes, there's almost nothing more frustrating than a dead battery or when the battery is dying and you have no idea what is going on with your vehicle.  I got in the car for work the other day and when I went to start it, I was having trouble getting it to go.  I finally got it started, but in the back of my mind horrible scenarios were running.  I could just see what little I had in savings being thrown out for some kind of major car work. 

I drove to work in an anxiety riddled state, praying that my car would make it there.  I once had a car that died on me during morning rush hour traffic.  I was in a left turn lane at a very busy intersection and it just went kaput.  I was so upset and embarrassed as I sat there not being able to move that I couldn't even turn on my flashers....in my state of nervousness I couldn't find them.  Eventually I did, but not before sinking down in the driver's seat as angry people pulled around me.  I did not want a repeat of that moment in my life.

I got to work without incident and pulled into the parking lot with that suspicious feeling that once I park and shut the car off, it was not going to start back up.  Ah, well.  Luckily, work that day went smoothly except for this dread about my car lingering in my thoughts.  I even went out to it during my lunch break.  I didn't try to start it, I simply stood beside it asking God, more like pleading, to let it start when my shift was over.  I did, though, open the door and the interior lights came on.  I took this as a good sign...my mistake LOL

When I went to my car after work, saying my little prayers, lo and behold....nothing.  The radio came on, the lights came on, the windows would roll down.  The rest of the car, not so much.  Thank goodness my coworker Tony had one of those handheld batteries (potential Christmas present here, folks) and brought it over and jumped me off. 

I drove away from work completely white knuckled.  Now I was REALLY praying that my car would make it somewhere.  Turned off the radio, kept the windows rolled up (in 90+ degree weather) and just drove, taking the shortest, quickest route to my destination.  Sweating bullets, needless to say.  My grip on the wheel tightened with each passing minute.  My mechanic is around the corner from my house, so if I could just make it there, even though he'd be closed, at least I would have some peace and mind and I could deal with it the next morning. 

I made it there, left the car and walked home.  I was just relieved that the car was parked.  I had the realization that I had not had a new battery in the 9 years I have owned the car, so that's probably what it was and it was time to replace, but I still had the nagging feeling that it might be something way more expensive.  But, it ended up being the battery and the next day all was right with the world.

I need to pay more attention when my car is telling me that it doesn't feel right.

That is all :)