The old vs the new... car

Remember my "new" car? I needed to replace a busted headlight.

Booooooo.

I bought a replacement bulb, then dreaded it. I kept the package in my car, waiting for it to maybe warm up. (I don't have a garage) I dread this because on my last car, getting to the headlight assembly was a chore. I had to go in through the wheel well, remove the wheel liner (which was guaranteed to break a part because it was held on with parts that snapped into place), then contort your arm reaching through to get to the bulb assembly. Then, after figuring out the combination, you could only pull it back so far because the wires were too short. From there you needed to do some voodoo to get the bulb out, then the new one in, before reversing course. Now you couldn't see the housing going back into place because your arm was in the way. That might be a real problem if you could get your head in there to see it in the first place, so just fumble around for awhile until it sets correctly. This required three, yes three, different wrench sizes and a screwdriver.

So of course I hesitated, because every time I have to do this it's cold out.

I had some time this morning, so I found a video showing how to get to the bulb assembly on my new car and replace it. I was immediately surprised. All I had to do was pop the hood and look down. The bulb assembly was right there, and it opened with a short twist. I did both bulbs in FIVE MINUTES, and with no tools.

I believe someone at Kia told the engineers that they would also be mechanics for basic maintenance like this, because it was almost too easy,

A small private service

My grandmother, my dad's mom, was the kind of woman that never wanted anyone to make a fuss over her. She didn't want a big funeral, memorial, 'celebration of life' (she rolled her eyes at that one), or anything of the sort. She wanted a simple graveside service with family and close friends present.

She got her wish.

It was chilly, but not uncomfortably cold. There was snow on the ground, but it wasn't snowing, nor was it windy. It was the best weather we could have hoped for in the midst of a snowy season. Given the privacy behind the service, it was remarkably well attended. There was no general announcement, but everyone that was told was in attendance. There was concern that her peers would refrain based on how cold it had been, but they all came and the weather relaxed for the occasion.

During a quiet moment, a flock of geese honked madly overhead. It was amusing, but it was also the perfect segue into the seagull story.

I was a small boy, and my grandmother had taken me to a nearby department store. It was attached to a quiet little mall that was dying, so the parking lot was mostly empty. I sat up front in her little truck, and there was a flock of seagulls sitting around, waiting for some discarded scraps.

She turned the truck toward them and gunned it.

My parents drove like they were afraid of the road, so the sudden acceleration was as surreal as the explosion of terrified birds fluttering in every direction. She did that more than once, but it was hilarious every time.

I'm gonna miss that woman.