Auto Repair 101

Last week was a great one for our family. However, in her haste to respond to an emergency, A knocked the door side review mirror into a major repair project. Any property damage A or I inflict is not covered on this car by our insurance, or if it is, it is $500.00 deductible. So we are on our own. The car in question is our 89 Buick Riviera. It's been treating us well the past few years, so it is still a keeper. But they are scarce as hen's teeth. I call four or five places. No luck. One front desk man tells me there is one in El Camino Real CA. He even gives me the telephone number.

What the heck. I try one more outfit. Western Recycling, the ad says. U PULL PRICES. "Yea," the desk man says, "I think I may have one. $35.00." "Think, or know?" I answer. "You'll have to come and see," he responds.

I don't feel every optimistic. But if it is the right mirror, it solves lots of problems. Turns out, he is in the scrap metal business with cars on the side. A worker there says I am dressed too well, as the place is basically a mud hole. I risk it. And there it is! A Buick Riviera, much like our own. Turns out to be a 90 or 91 model, but it looks much like what I need. To remove it, I will need a deep set socket, no clue as to the size. I ponder this as a freak snow storm descends.

There's a piece of the old mirror still attached and lucky me, I have the right socket! So back I go to the "parts department." to retrieve my treasure.

If you look closely, you will see three bolts. The nuts of course have fallen into an inaccessible part of the door frame. So I stop and the West Salem True Value and the salesman locates what I need. Often, it is easier to take something apart than to put it back together again. This is my fear. But shortly after supper, the task is complete!

It might not look like much to you, but to me right now, it's close to heaven!