The Squeaky Wheel

After all of the drama surrounding the new car dying, getting it fixed and reimbursed (that hasn't happened yet, but it should today.) I am so ready to be done with all of it and go on with our lives. This is a well-deserved weekened. Too bad it will be spent working on finals. The car experience has actually been an empowering one.

In the past, mostly before I was married, if there were any kind of issue that involved persuading someone to see things my way, complaining, or any sort of confrontation...I would ask my parents to do it. This time (with the exception of a letter writing campaign spear-headed by my dynamo mother-in-law and papa-bear father-in-law and my own formidable mother) we handled things ourselves. Last night I talked to the head of sales about what had happened with our car, the salesman who said it would be fixed and how much they were willing to pay for. Originally he offered to pay 50% (which he said is standard procedure)...by the end of the conversation he offered all but $70. After the guilt trip of a letter I sent them I hope it's more.

This experience has taught me that I can do things for myself and that I can make things happen. Also, I learned that my dear husband's super powers are perspective (I have been freaking out) and making cocky salesmen feel incredibly akward. I love that man.

Update: They're paying us IN FULL for the repairs we had to make on our car. The moral of the story: the squeaky wheel not only gets the grease, it gets the CHECK.