Tuesday, 17 July 2001 | Rebirth

Three days ago I'd swallowed the fact that I wouldn't be driving my car again, that I'd have to get used to the foreign buttons and misplaced switches of some new road companion, as if making a transition between college boyfriends. I was even prepared to go into debt for a couple of thousand dollars so that I could drive something slightly younger and equally unreliable. On Saturday I drew circles all over the classifieds, called lots of strangers with Hondas, and ended up test-driving a 1974 Beetle. To my surprise, that alien group of humans who understands automobiles suggested that I simply repair the car I have. So that's what I'm doing; this week my car's getting a new engine. Forget the melodramatic thing I said about my car seeing its last tow truck. There will be many more calls to AAA, I'm certain.