July is a pivotal month for The Wade Webster. Has been for the past several years for many reasons.
When I arrived home near the middle of the month there was a white sheet of paper stuck in my little clip fastened next to my door. My apartment number was written in marker on the paper that was stapled to keep it folded. That’s the security they give us for our lease renewal notices.
Every year when I see this paper I wonder if this will be the last time I have to contend with this issue. Every year for the past nine years the answer has been no.
The good news is that this go around my rent will only increase four dollars instead of the more usual $40 per month for the last three years. I guess the housing bubble has finally burst in Plano.
July is also the month Clifford’s license plates need to be renewed. The plates aren’t the challenge. The annual inspection is. Through coercion and prayer he passed the computer plug in part on the 27th of the month.
I was relatively certain the tires wouldn’t pass their visual inspection this time. Even if they had I knew I needed to replace them because one of the back tires had a belt slipping in it. It was just a matter of time as to when it was going to blow.
It’s very bad luck to have a tire blow out in heavy metroplex traffic at full speed.
My memory tells me I spent around $250 for new tires six years ago. This time it was going to be double that amount.
Since I don’t know how much longer Clifford, the big red van, will be a part of my family I decided to buy some used tires, or lantas usada on the 26th of July.
The younger Latino gentleman spoke good English and led me to a set of light truck tires just Clifford’s size out back of the shop among the stacks of various sized tires in their inventory.
$160 later Clifford was rolling smoothly down the road again. My budget would have been a bit happier if they had accepted a credit card instead of cash, but I’ll manage somehow. At least his wiggle won’t throw my back out of alignment now.
My time is being battled for by my driving and painting personas…the forces behind them are anyway.
The Apainter Paul won a bid for a whole house interior job that he wants me to devote at least a week of my life to in order to get it done in the timeframe he wants it done in.
The window company still has a driver out for vacation time. He’s home in Mexico dealing with some family dilemma or other so that company needs me, too.
When I parked in front of the house to paint on Saturday my phone rang. It was the temp agency wanting to know if I could fill a run to Houston ASAP. I had to tell them no.
I really need to clone myself. Then my budget would get caught up in no time.
I have a feeling next July will have its own set of dilemmas for me to deal with. Hopefully one of them will be when to hand in my notice to vacate this 700 square foot apartment filled with too many bad memories.
It always feels like I’m on the verge of complete failure or total success in my life. One of these days that bubble is bound to burst, too.
I know in the end I’m on the winning side. The Bible guarantees that to me as God’s adopted son because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross and at the grave.
I just need some help coping with the stress of making it through this life now.
I’m not complaining. I’m just tired.
I’ll see you later. Wade
