What A Feeling
The numbers roll over and I get a little excited. It’s been 3000 miles which means I get to go to my favorite place- The Express Lube down the street. I know it’s strange, a lady like myself who doesn’t really care about cars or keeping up with any kind of maintenance including my nails, however, this is the errand I love to do.
I pull up to the entrance and a handsome man walks over and reads the sticker on the driver’s side corner of my windshield. From it, he knows my name and when my last visit was.
“Hi Mrs. Aguirre. I’ll take care of this for you.” He says while opening my door.
“Thank you” I say walking into the waiting room.
Opening the door I smell flowers with just a hint of gasoline. The gray tiles on the floor are polished to a high shine and my heels make a clean clicking sound as I make way over to the leather love seat. It’s my favorite place to sit but there are other options; two leather wingbacks, a café table and chairs, a desk complete with office chair incase you have some work to do and an out door deck for those who prefer a little sunshine.
The music here is a sublime mix of 80’s hits and Indy Rock. Outside the guys in the garage listen to a mix of regga tone and hip-hop, you can hear it whenever they open the door, but not too loud so as not to disrupt the mood on the inside.
Sitting across from me is an older man with silver hair. He is reading the sports section and munching on the complimentary popcorn. They also have free coffee. He must sense my staring because he looks up and smiles at me. We share a moment of agreement, as we both know we are in a good place.
I pick up the financial section of today’s paper not really reading. I’m just holding the paper listening to the swooshing sound of the shoe shiners rag. Today it’s a young man who polishes to the beat of What A Feeling by Irene Cara. It’s one of my favorite songs.
“What a feeling- I am music now, bein’s believin’- I am rythme now
What a feeling- I can have it all- I can really have it all.”
Just before the urge to dance takes over me, the mechanic walks in.
“Mrs. Aguirre?”
“Yes.”
“ Everything looks good. All your fluids are good, I just put a little extra washer fluid in there for you and also I think you need new wipers and your passenger side head light is out.” He said with charming concern.
“Really? I had no idea my light was out.”
“We checked it out and I can take care of it for you if you like?”
“Yes. That would be great.” I said
“We’ll get it done right away for you and clean her up inside and out. Also, we’re doing complimentary amour oil on your tires today so we’ll have her lookin’ good as new.”
“Take your time. I’m in no rush.” I said with a plea.
Isn’t this how everything should be? The problems are quickly discovered and resolved by the right people with the right tools while I sit and listen to great music and eat popcorn and chat with whoever decides to sit next to me. It never works that way though. In a few minutes when they’re done with my car, I have to head back into the traffic which hasn’t gotten any better since they put in that extra lane. When I finally do make it home, I have to jiggle the wires on my computer and hope that the Internet will start connecting again. If I want to watch television I have to manage three remote controls including one that claims to be “universal”. I have a mysterious charge on my credit card that is going to take several phone calls to figure out. The postal deliveryman won’t leave my packages at my door even though I signed the little slip and now I have to go across town to pick up whatever it is. My yard is apparently not up to snuff so my neighbors keep leaving the cards of their yard guys on my fence.
These are all small problems and annoyances I know, but wouldn’t it be great if there were an Express Solver place we could drive up to and there would be somebody there with some answers and solutions and it would only cost $29.99 or $39.99 for the works?
“Mrs. Aguirre your car is ready.” The man behind the counter says holding my keys up.
“Thank you so much. Do you mind if I grab a cup of coffee to go Mr. Kennedy?” I ask reading his nametag.
“Not at all. You take as much as you like. Your total is …”
I completely stop listening and just hand him my debit card because the truth is, he could charge me what ever he wants at this point. Hell, he could ask me to marry him and I would although he has a big Buddha belly and I already have a husband but that doesn’t matter because, right now all is right with the world. I enter my pin number and he gives my receipt $39.99 plus tax.
I can really have it all.