Glowing Again!

Today was spent at a garage in Monterey—a garage picked out from a host of other auto repair places in the area using the Internet.  What a gift it is to be able to read what other people think and feel about a business, especially when you are a total stranger in town.  Tom’s Monterey Auto Repair put the “glow” back in our RV, Odysseus, today.  Diesel engines have glow plugs—and one of the six glow plugs in Odysseus’ engine (#3 to be exact) lost its glow in Las Cruces, NM last week causing the engine light to light up.  An engine light can be an irritant when traveling (even though it offers a little glow) and can actually take some of the “glow” out of an adventurous and normally glowing driver.  So, Odysseus has its glow back and I have a little of mine back too, now that the engine light no longer lights up!  Plus, instead of just sitting and waiting in the garage, I got my hair cut, enjoyed a nice lunch, took a wonderful walk to Fishermans Wharf and met a number of unique people I never would have met if Odysseus hadn’t lost its glow.

BUT—isn’t there always a “but” when it comes to restoring a glow to anything?  While putting the glow back into Odysseus, an aged, fragile and brittle fuel line broke accidentally.  This little plastic part was not available anywhere in Monterey.  The ”part” was ordered and will arrive tomorrow.  I will return to the garage then and hopefully get a bit more of my glow back.  

Odysseus has taken us 127,000 miles in the past seven years or so, giving us an opportunity to visit friends and family in Texas, Minnesota, Washington, California, Arizona, Alabama, Idaho, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Illinois Ohio—almost every one of the lower 48!  We have enjoyed many of our national parks and monuments, including Glacier, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, Big Bend, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Arches, Rainbow Bridge, Organ Pipe Cactus, Sequoia, Death Valley, Lassen, and on and on.  While occasionally Odysseus “breaks down” or “loses its glow” we try to keep in mind all the places it has so faithfully carried us.

The journey of life is sometimes interrupted by engine light warnings and sometimes loses its glow.  Sometimes its aged, fragile and brittle fuel line springs leaks.  Yet, like Odysseus,  this “life” has carried us to and through so many wonders, so many beautiful, special and sacred moments, and given us friends, children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren.  We must always keep this in mind.  We must take care of ourselves by occasionally getting our glow plugs and fuel lines renewed.  This is necessary if we are to continue our travels.

Arches National Park