I know I did not get a message to you last week. I did
intend to but I was doing so much running around with
my new vehicle, or should I say, in order to get my new
vehicle ready to roll.

I received many requests for more info on my journey of
finding a car, I guess I cut it too short last time. I did not want
to bore you with all the details. It was definitely a learning
experience and I achieved many AHA moments.

I have been diligently looking at other cars, either on the road
or in parking lots or in lots where they sell them. I knew I would
be purchasing a vehicle this year (although I expected it to be this
fall) and I did not know what I wanted. I know I needed a 4 wheel
drive to get up an incline on my street in the winter instead of sliding
back down the street and then attempting it again. I only had
front wheel drive on my Nissan Altima.

The Altima was such a good car and it served me so well except
when there was snow on my street. I live on a private street
so the town does not plow it and the only neighbor I have in
the winter has two 4 wheel drive vehicles and when I asked
her if she would pitch in to help pay a plow, her response
was: “If it snows more than 16 inches than I would be
happy to”. So you know it was left up to me to decide
whether to have it plowed or not and I really did not have
much choice. A man on another street, a human angel really,
offered to make one swipe down and then back up for a
reasonable price. I was so grateful to him and he took
good care of me but I still slid back down if there was
any ice or hard packed snow.

I would sit in the house and fret about whether I would
be able to get out if it was necessary. Living alone there is
no one to call if I slide back down into the snow and get
stuck. My boys live too far away to help. I believe I have
Faith but do I? When it comes to this I panic, so the winters are
stressful; of my own making I might add. We all have choices
and I had not wanted to have a monthly car payment again but
Spirit cannot help me if I am not willing to help myself.

The Altima got 28 miles a gallon city driving and the 4 wheel drive
vehicles get so much less per gallon. Was I spoiled or what? I
checked out Subaru, Honda, Jeep, Nissan, Hyundai and yes I
checked out Chevy and Ford as they were the only ones who
had cars that were purple. I wanted a car that had staying power,
that would last me at least 15 years, I did not want to go through
this torture again for quite a while. Why or why could I not see
this as an adventure?

I could not financially afford a new car and with my Multiple
Chemical Sensitivities, I could not even get in one because that
“new car smell” is chemicals that are outgassing from the new
leather, plastic, and upholstery. If I could I have I would have
leased a brand new Toyota for $189 a month and a free
two year maintenance program.

I had taken my car in for an oil change and my mechanics who
I trust implicitly talked to me about Toyota. I had ruled them
out because I would not support any company that did not
take care of their customers. They gave me the other side of
the story of what had happened and suggested that a Toyota
RAV4 would be an ideal car for me. I have trusted them for
30 years and they have never steered me wrong and have
been human angels to me many times when I ran into a problem.

On my way home, I was going by a Toyota dealership and
decided to stop in to see what they had. It was my first time
stopping to talk to a car salesman. The other times, I would just
ride around and look at what they had without talking to anyone.

Guess the name of the salesman who took care of me, Muhammed!!!
Right out of the bible, so the angels were taking care of me again.
He had a 2008 RAV4 Limited with all the bells and whistles and a
price too high for me to afford but he let me take it for a ride. I was
hooked. It was a pearl white and absolutely beautiful. I did not want
to make a quick decision and since I had not looked around much, I
decided to wait a few days.

I could not get it out of my mind and heart. I even dreamed about it
so the next day,I decided to call Muhammed to see what kind of a
deal, price or monthly payment I was looking at. IT HAD BEEN
SOLD THAT VERY DAY. I was disappointed but life has taught
me that what I think I want so badly has a way of being given to me
in other ways. Do you see how the angels took care of me again?
I would have committed myself to a much higher payment than I had
set as my goal and the decision was made for me.

I tried keeping an open mind and went to other dealerships to drive
other brand vehicles which I thought might suffice. I tried a Subaru
which are all 4 wheel drive all the time but it felt too much like a
station wagon. By the way, station wagons are now called crossovers.
4wheel drive vehicles get much less mileage to the gallon. I live in the
boondocks so I need to travel a ways to everything.

I went to another dealer and got in a vehicle to take it for a ride,
got out onto the road and turned right around to bring it back.
I could not smell anything but some chemical was definitely in there
as I was starting to feel the effects of it. I tried another vehicle but
although it was 4 wheel drive, I was sitting so low that it would not
help me look out over the snow that the plows put on the side of the
road near my street.

I finally listened to my heart (I wonder why I don’t do that right
away instead of trying to find alternatives) and made up my mind
to get a Toyota RAV4 which is front wheel drive most of the time
but kicks into 4wheel if your tires slip or slide at all. I could not
find another pearl white one but I did find a couple of white ones.
I traveled 30 miles to see one and the minute I got in, I had to
get out. I could not figure out where the fragrance was coming
from until the dealer told me it was an air freshener. It does
not matter what the fragrance is, it is the chemicals in the fragrance
that makes me so ill. I told him that ruined any thought of my
purchasing it as the fragrance by now was in every nook and cranny.
I also wonder what he was trying to cover up with the strong scent.

I went to a dealer to drive another RAV4 and I watched as he went
back and forth outside on his way to get the vehicle for me. I thought
perhaps he could not find it but it turned out that someone had left the
lights on and the battery was dead. He had been looking for the
jumper cables to jump start it. We both got in and we had driven just
a short way when the lights started flashing and the car bucking.
I pulled into another smaller lot where cars were being sold.

I started to laugh as I found it very funny. The salesperson did not
think it very funny but he smiled because I was laughing. He even
had to borrow my cell phone to call to get someone to come jump
the battery. I told him he was driving it back and he agreed because
he said he would have to use two feet, one on the gas and one on the
brakes. Can you believe, it stalled three more times and had to be
jumped each time. I was not upset and the reason I was finding it
so funny is because I knew the angels were stepping in again and
telling me not to even consider this one. It is comical when you think
about it.

I went to a father son dealership which is smaller than the big ones
but bigger than the used car lot around the corner. He had two
RAV4 and they were both 2004’s. One was owned by two old
ladies with one’s name being Myrtle and it only had 24,000 miles.
I really resonated with the ladies’ and was hoping to buy that one.
I tried both and Myrtle’s seemed to be more comfortable to sit in
but it did not have the bells and whistles.The other one was the
Limited edition which had side air bags as well as the curtain bags
even for the back seat. It had new tires and a spoiler as well as
a sun roof and only 38,000 miles.

I did not make a hasty decision but went back a couple of times.
Once to just sit in my car to look at them and make my decision
and once to try them both on the highway. I wanted to make sure
that the wind or the speed on the highway would not make it swerve.
I was used to a low sitting car which is not such a target for the wind.

I finally made my decision and apologized to Myrtle for not choosing
her beloved vehicle. The limited was $600 more but it had brand new
tires and brakes which made up for the difference. Big car dealers charge
$400 for filling out the paper work and an extra $200 for something else.
These fees I did not have to pay and I found a credit union where I got
a good percentage and a 4 year loan.

My Nissan went to my grandson and he was thrilled to get it. It is a
1998 with 172,000 miles but it has a lot of life left in it yet. My son,
his father, insisted that he work and save the money for a car before
he would let him get one. He has finished his first year at college and
worked all summer to save the money. When I asked him if he wanted
my car, his first question is how many miles does it have. When I told
him he said that was great, it would last him for quite a while. He had
been looking at cars he could afford and they were not in good shape
and all had over 200,000 miles so my car looked young to him.

My son had offered me $1,000 for it but I told him I would only take
$750 which my son thought was a great deal. I really only wanted
$500 but I knew he would not go for that. When my grandson
gave me the money, I gave him back $250 on the condition that he
bank it and use it only for car repairs. If he takes money out for
the car then he needs to replace it so he will always have an emergency
fund to keep it running. I remember needing to have my car repaired
which I could not afford and had to go without a car. I wanted to
spare him that experience and you and I know that $250 is peanuts
when it comes to car repairs. His father did not stop that either
for which I was so grateful.

When my oldest son saw my new vehicle he said: “What a sweet
ride. You did real good mom”. My youngest son really likes it
and with both sons congratulating me on my choice, it was quite
a feather in my cap.

I have been playing with my new car and discovered quite a secret.
It has both a CD Player and a cassette player. Now I can listen
again to my old cassettes as well as the new CD’s. I had pin striping
(purple, of course) put on my RAV4 which is a beautiful silver color.
It looks really classy and not gaudy at all and most of all it has my
signature with the beautiful and wonderful vibration of the Violet Flame.
I have purple seat covers with dragonflies from my Nissan and my
concern was that I could not use them with the side air bags. I went
to an expert who explained that as they are not heavy upholstery and
were sewn with regular thread, the force of the side air bag could open
them quite easily. I was thrilled to be able to keep them as I have all
the accessories also like carpets, seat belt wraps and visors.

One thing I was looking forward to with purchasing a newer car
was the keyless entry. Well, this vehicle does not have one and
Toyota is asking $1100 but I went back to Mastrionni’s and I
have been given the name of someone that does this. This
I will check into this coming week and will also check into having
an angel decal put on my spare tire on the back of my vehicle.
The magnetic signs with white angels on purple background
which I used on the other car are looking kind of tired.
Did I tell you the father and son place where I bought my car,
Mastrionni’s, is where my pastor buys his cars and my mechanics
have a good rapport with them? See how much I am looked after.
How can I be worried or concerned about anything when my back
is protected by Spirit and the angels? The only thing I need to do
is be aware of their guidance and all is well (and I get a good laugh).

Sunday is a very special day and I have a request of you. It is
Earth Healing Day and you and I can make a difference in this
world and on this planet. Please join with me in Spirit between
noon and 1PM. Check this out!!!!

Spread the word! This Sunday, August 15th has been designated
Earth Healing Day. See this link http://www.earthhealingday.com .

People around the world will invest the hour between Noon and 1 PM for:

* Dedicated focus for Earth healing and cleansing
* Prayer, meditation and chanting
* Sharing of love for the planet

Done individually or in groups, this will create a wave of consciousness
focused on world healing that will cover the Earth as the sun moves
around the planet. Whatever your plans, please take some time during
this hour to send your love and healing energy to Planet Earth.

Love and Light,

Mary Grace
www.TheWoundedChalice.com
www.TheWoundedChalice.com/blog
[email protected]

3 Brows Beach Dr
PO Box 403
Wales, MA 01081, USA
413-245-3977