Time

Time. Sometimes too much. Other times not enough. Short in the scope of life. Long on sleepless nights.

Tonight has been very long. We spent the late afternoon and whole evening at a car dealership. I hate the whole process of buying a new car. I know I am not alone in this. I am buying the same model car for the third time. Actually, leasing. Not black this time though. French Silk. Who makes up these colors? And why would French silk be the color of an pearl? Why would it not be all colors...It is silk. Getting a new car, takes a lot of time.

I believe there is more paperwork to do in buying a car than a house. I know there is. It is insane. I tried to do an online credit application today. Of course it said I would have an answer within the hour. Not. Too many credit apps going through right now since they came up with the clever gimmick of selling cars at employees costs. Great idea, saves a bundle and they sell cars like hot cakes. I waited all morning for the application to be approved and then take it the dealership...To save TIME. Not.

We haggled a bit about pricing, discounts, but not too much. I liked the saleswoman. We had an instant connection, wit wise. I was driving on the freeway and asked, "Can I get off here?" She says, "That's up to you!" I laughed. Instant like. We have to go back in the morning with proof of insurance. It is sitting right here. I didn't think to take it. More time at the dealership. Papers are all signed, just an exchange of cars. From black to French silk! The saleswoman wants to have dinner with me. She thinks we have a lot in common. I told her she would have to come south...I don't like leaving town at night. She said she used to live south of us, she will come. We will see. More time.

My husband was great. He put up with all the joking, even added his own. He played games on his phone and said he just wanted to know the monthly payment. It was higher than we liked. He said he wanted me to be happy and we got the car. How wonderful is he? Very. I am very lucky. Not just the car, but him. He is funny, loving, caring, hard working and a great father too. Not enough time in the day for him. He works very hard. He would like to spend more time with the kids, me, the dog. Time.

The girls were great too. Katharine had a friend along. They watched TV and raided the vending machines. Zoe sat with us and listened. Learned. Took it all in. She has grown up so fast. Toward the end of the transaction, all the girls, David and I were in the saleswoman's office. The general manager was working up the paperwork and taking too much time. I told the girls to go stand in front of his office and stare. One did, came back laughing at his reaction. We all cracked up. He didn't take too much more time to come in with the final paperwork!

I am sitting out here on the deck. There are beautiful flashes of lightening off in the distance. Summer storms in the desert. The dog was munching on a rawhide bone, but it crashed down to the deck below. His bedtime anyhow! The crickets are loud. The frogs are croaking. The talking has stopped. The laughter and giggles have ceased, at least for tonight. All is quiet, soothing. This is my time.