I needed my lawn leveled and grass seed respread where the gas company left a hump in my lawn last January after installing gas lines from the street to my house. (Sons John and Tom, Angels in Disguise, hooked up the line from the house to the fireplace). I contacted a landscaper and the cost was to be $300 -- fair, I'm sure, but a lot of money for me so he told me I could pay half at the time of the work and half the next month. How good of him. So I agreed.
Three days before he was scheduled to do the work, I got a check in the mail for $294.00 -- a refund for my overpayment in my Escrow account!
A few months ago, my son John "loaned" me a John Deere riding lawn mower -- I love it, it is fun! But constant flat tires and dull blades that make ridges in my lawn were frustrating. Sons cannot constantly be coming here to fix my stuff -- they have their own stuff, and then some, to fix. So my prayer has been, please, God, just let me be able to pay for and take care of my own stuff.
Yesterday, son-in-law, Randy, picked up a used 4-drawer filing cabinet for me that I had found on Craig's List and told me, as he was driving around Nashville, he "just happened" to notice a truck advertising "Mobile Lawn Mower Repair" and wrote down the number. Voila! I called the number, the guy came out and sharpened my blades and removed my flat tire, which I then took to local auto repair shop and they fixed for TEN DOLLARS! Then, the guy came back and put the tire back on the lawn mower!
Call me if you want his number. Call God if you want His Help! "HE" coordinates beautifully . . .
Thank you, God, for caring about me and my problems! As always.
Your Grateful, Praiseful Child,
Friday, May 9, 2014
IMI (Irving Materials, Inc.) MEMORIES . . .
IMI MEMORIES . . .
When I lived in my Donelson condo (2 miles from where I worked at Irving Materials, Inc). I had a deck off my LR with steps down to a second, lower deck surrounded by a round garden with a tree in the middle. The previous owner had converted most of the yard, front, side, and back, into gardens so mowing was easy. Keeping up with all the gardening not so much.
One day I came down the steps into the yard to smell the flowers and there in one side garden came this cat-sized furry black and white creature with a long high tail. "Oh, my!" I exclaimed . . . as he scurried back into the neighbor’s yard from whence he came.
For a time I had a box turtle. I started leaving veggies out for him which disappeared regularly for a couple of weeks. I think he lived under the lower deck. Then he disappeared. I think the neighbor’s dog got him.
One day, after working in the yard, I came inside, went into my half bath, stripped off my garden clothes, and dropped them into the washer located across the hall from the half bath. Went upstairs to my master bath, took a shower, and came back downstairs. I went back into the half bath and lifted the toilet seat (why???) and there sat a little green frog. I screamed. He jumped.
Recovering, I closed the door, went to the kitchen and got a glass jar, returned to the bathroom, got him into the jar, and released him onto the tree in the garden surrounding the lower deck. The next day I told my little tale at work.
My birthday was about a week later. I came to work that morning and my office door was closed. We never close our office doors.
I opened the door to discover my office "friends" had decorated my entire office. Green and white balloons were hanging all over from the ceiling. And frogs – all sizes and shapes – stuffed and ceramic – were sitting all over my desk and computer and table!
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Taking my Frogs and LEAVING!
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"The Frog Lady," as I was now called, retired from IMI in September of 2007. But that was after my birthday "surprise" in March of that same year. I do believe the Zoo inmates outdid themselves this time.
I opened my closed office door that March 17th, to discovered this:
How many rolls of tin foil does it take to cover an entire office, anyway???
When I lived in my Donelson condo (2 miles from where I worked at Irving Materials, Inc). I had a deck off my LR with steps down to a second, lower deck surrounded by a round garden with a tree in the middle. The previous owner had converted most of the yard, front, side, and back, into gardens so mowing was easy. Keeping up with all the gardening not so much.
One day I came down the steps into the yard to smell the flowers and there in one side garden came this cat-sized furry black and white creature with a long high tail. "Oh, my!" I exclaimed . . . as he scurried back into the neighbor’s yard from whence he came.
For a time I had a box turtle. I started leaving veggies out for him which disappeared regularly for a couple of weeks. I think he lived under the lower deck. Then he disappeared. I think the neighbor’s dog got him.
One day, after working in the yard, I came inside, went into my half bath, stripped off my garden clothes, and dropped them into the washer located across the hall from the half bath. Went upstairs to my master bath, took a shower, and came back downstairs. I went back into the half bath and lifted the toilet seat (why???) and there sat a little green frog. I screamed. He jumped.
Recovering, I closed the door, went to the kitchen and got a glass jar, returned to the bathroom, got him into the jar, and released him onto the tree in the garden surrounding the lower deck. The next day I told my little tale at work.
My birthday was about a week later. I came to work that morning and my office door was closed. We never close our office doors.
I opened the door to discover my office "friends" had decorated my entire office. Green and white balloons were hanging all over from the ceiling. And frogs – all sizes and shapes – stuffed and ceramic – were sitting all over my desk and computer and table!
Taking my Frogs and LEAVING!
"The Frog Lady," as I was now called, retired from IMI in September of 2007. But that was after my birthday "surprise" in March of that same year. I do believe the Zoo inmates outdid themselves this time.
I opened my closed office door that March 17th, to discovered this:
How many rolls of tin foil does it take to cover an entire office, anyway???
And that's the way it was at Dear Ol' I--M--I.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Another "What If" (Originally Written 8/31/2012)
Okay, so I’m sitting here on the porch with Rocky and my morning coffee thinking what a beautiful day and what I want to accomplish in the yard.
It looks and feels like rain – maybe. Yeay.
As always, I think how blessed I am to have what I have and do what I do. I begin thanking God and naming my blessings.
This time I begin by reflecting on my greatest blessing of all – the fact that God sent His son, Jesus, to earth to live as a man, think as a man, suffer as a man, and then He climbed up on that cross and died for me and my sins.
The living as a man part is the part that always gets me. It is so hard to imagine that He was, in fact, a human being, just like me. And did – or didn’t do – the same things as me.
It’s not that I doubt it – it’s just so hard to comprehend. And then, as I have often done, I find myself thinking –
Did He accomplish all this BECAUSE He was God’s son – or did He BECOME God’s son because of all the people who have lived and died He was/is the only one who did (or didn’t) do all these things?
My conservative Christian children and friends are likely gasping out loud right about now. Sorry about that. Chill. God doesn’t mind my questions, why should you? No matter how wacky or how old I get..
Actually, He and I have discussed this many times. Well, in this case, it’s just me thinking “what if” but He has heard this what if from me many times in my life. Almost as wacky as my “what if we’re merely the equivalent of a flea on a dog” what if. He’s very familiar with the odd or unusual “what ifs”of this particular wacky child of his. And never once has He reprimanded me for my wonderings, my “what ifs”.
Some things He eventually clarifies for me; other things, like this what if, remain unanswered. Likely it will remain so until I meet up with Him in person. Well, I mean, spirit. That’s okay, too. It is, after all, just a “what if”. Not something I plan my life around.
The reason I even think about this – not often, but sometimes -- is because, for me, it is even more amazing to contemplate the latter.
When the Broadway Opera/Musical, “Jesus Christ, Superstar,” came out back in the 60s, it offended many Christians. I thought it was the most amazing and uplifting spiritual experience of my life thus far.
It had always been easy for me to understand/accept the “divine” nature of God and His Son.
Growing up in a conservative Christian home praying before meals, attending church three times a week, I just never doubted God was God and Jesus was His son.
Seeing a play and listening to music that enabled me to see Jesus as a real live person who lived and and loved and experienced joy and pain – just like me – that took my understanding and love and awe to another level.
To think God’s son willingly came here to live and love and suffer as a man, a human being, for my sake fills me with gratitude and praise and awe that words fail to express...
To entertain the thought, the possibiity, the “what if” of him becoming God’s Son BECAUSE he . . .
“. . . was tempted and sinned not” ---
There simply are no words to express the humility and gratitude and awe such a “what if” generates in my heart and soul.
Heretically yours,
Sarah.
It looks and feels like rain – maybe. Yeay.
As always, I think how blessed I am to have what I have and do what I do. I begin thanking God and naming my blessings.
This time I begin by reflecting on my greatest blessing of all – the fact that God sent His son, Jesus, to earth to live as a man, think as a man, suffer as a man, and then He climbed up on that cross and died for me and my sins.
The living as a man part is the part that always gets me. It is so hard to imagine that He was, in fact, a human being, just like me. And did – or didn’t do – the same things as me.
It’s not that I doubt it – it’s just so hard to comprehend. And then, as I have often done, I find myself thinking –
Did He accomplish all this BECAUSE He was God’s son – or did He BECOME God’s son because of all the people who have lived and died He was/is the only one who did (or didn’t) do all these things?
My conservative Christian children and friends are likely gasping out loud right about now. Sorry about that. Chill. God doesn’t mind my questions, why should you? No matter how wacky or how old I get..
Actually, He and I have discussed this many times. Well, in this case, it’s just me thinking “what if” but He has heard this what if from me many times in my life. Almost as wacky as my “what if we’re merely the equivalent of a flea on a dog” what if. He’s very familiar with the odd or unusual “what ifs”of this particular wacky child of his. And never once has He reprimanded me for my wonderings, my “what ifs”.
Some things He eventually clarifies for me; other things, like this what if, remain unanswered. Likely it will remain so until I meet up with Him in person. Well, I mean, spirit. That’s okay, too. It is, after all, just a “what if”. Not something I plan my life around.
The reason I even think about this – not often, but sometimes -- is because, for me, it is even more amazing to contemplate the latter.
When the Broadway Opera/Musical, “Jesus Christ, Superstar,” came out back in the 60s, it offended many Christians. I thought it was the most amazing and uplifting spiritual experience of my life thus far.
It had always been easy for me to understand/accept the “divine” nature of God and His Son.
Growing up in a conservative Christian home praying before meals, attending church three times a week, I just never doubted God was God and Jesus was His son.
Seeing a play and listening to music that enabled me to see Jesus as a real live person who lived and and loved and experienced joy and pain – just like me – that took my understanding and love and awe to another level.
To think God’s son willingly came here to live and love and suffer as a man, a human being, for my sake fills me with gratitude and praise and awe that words fail to express...
To entertain the thought, the possibiity, the “what if” of him becoming God’s Son BECAUSE he . . .
“. . . was tempted and sinned not” ---
There simply are no words to express the humility and gratitude and awe such a “what if” generates in my heart and soul.
Heretically yours,
Sarah.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
The Big and Small of It
"I don’t remember your hand being so small," he commented as he reached for my arm and engulfed his hand in mine.
"It’s the same size it’s always been," I replied.
We were walking down the church aisle. Jerry had moved back to Michigan two years previous returning to his job at Burroughs Corporation and now living in a rented house in Royal Oak, Michigan. Son, Tom, graduated from high school, had returned with him.
And here we were:
Time: 5:00 p.m., October 19, 1984, rehearsal of son John’s wedding.
Place: Franklin, Tennessee
It is now twenty-nine years since that event, seven years longer than our marriage of twenty-two years and five years since his passing in 2008.
His comment that evening – and any time since that the memory surfaces – wrenches my heart as I think of the significance of his comment and the thought and emotion that always surface in my own heart and mind.
Yes . . . my small hand in yours, Jer. I was small; you were big. And strong. At least on the outside. On the inside, not so much. But I didn’t understand that when we were married.
If I had . . .
Instead, as always, the memory of this seemingly casual exchange wrenches and squeezes my heart in painful remembrance and I wonder . . .
If I had . . .
maybe you would have . . . protected . . .
defended . . .
cherished . . .
that small hand . . . and the person attached to it.
"It’s the same size it’s always been," I replied.
We were walking down the church aisle. Jerry had moved back to Michigan two years previous returning to his job at Burroughs Corporation and now living in a rented house in Royal Oak, Michigan. Son, Tom, graduated from high school, had returned with him.
And here we were:
Time: 5:00 p.m., October 19, 1984, rehearsal of son John’s wedding.
Place: Franklin, Tennessee
It is now twenty-nine years since that event, seven years longer than our marriage of twenty-two years and five years since his passing in 2008.
His comment that evening – and any time since that the memory surfaces – wrenches my heart as I think of the significance of his comment and the thought and emotion that always surface in my own heart and mind.
Yes . . . my small hand in yours, Jer. I was small; you were big. And strong. At least on the outside. On the inside, not so much. But I didn’t understand that when we were married.
If I had . . .
Instead, as always, the memory of this seemingly casual exchange wrenches and squeezes my heart in painful remembrance and I wonder . . .
If I had . . .
maybe you would have . . . protected . . .
defended . . .
cherished . . .
that small hand . . . and the person attached to it.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Random Reflections on Memorial Day (5/27/2013)
No one could be more patriotic than me, I think.
Have always thought, " My kids can’t know this feeling. How could they? It’s not their fault. They weren’t young children in the early 40s when the war to end all wars was taking place. Posters, movies, newsreels, ration books, war bonds – being surrounded by the sights and sounds – albeit a safe few thousand miles away from the actual events." And yet they have now lived through similar wars and feelings.
Feelings similar, I imagine, to mine that erupt in tears and emotions that squeeze my heart whenever I hear patriotic and/or just plain old-fashioned songs from the 20's, 30's, and 40's.
And then I think, "What must God feel? What must He think looking down on His children – ALL his children – not just those of us who are "Amuricuns" . . . ?"
War was not invented by God. War was invented by humans . . . God’s children. Who believe their "tribe" is "the people" and anyone else is "the other". Lumped all together, the "other", then, become easy to despise . . . and hate . . . and kill. Down through the eons of time.
The bigger the tribe, the more advanced the civilization.
" . . . the better to eat you with, my dear."
As a woman of my time and place, that has been easy to embrace; an easy price for me to pay.
Not so for all the young men, and in more recent times, young women, who first were drafted, and now choose to serve their country, their "tribe".
Movies, slogans, posters, recruiters – propagandize and glorify the cause. Otherwise it could not evoke the patriotism needed to entice the boys and girls to proudly and joyfully sign up. To lay their lives on the line. For their country, their tribe. Yeay!
My thoughts wander. What If . . .
All those presidents and heads of states – of all the countries – sat down in a meeting place somewhere and said – as I believe God would say –
"War is not the answer. Killing is not the answer. And all you kids are gonna sit here til you come up with a better solution. No TV, no bike riding, no treats. Nothing. Sit right here ‘til you come up with a better idea." (My kids, if they read this will say – hmmm, sounds famililar.)
Instead, here I sit. With my patriotism bubbling over. Always. At the same time knowing that is precisely what "the tribe" intends. We have to think we are bigger than, better than, gooder than . . . all the "others." Because the "others" will do their best to take from us everything we have worked so hard to get. Our way of life, our "stuff", and yes, of course, our freedoms.
Our freedoms – to speak or not speak, to believe or not believe, to succeed or not succeed.
So I project what would happen if . . .
If all these presidents and heads of state would sit down . . . one time . . . find that "better idea" and say . . .
"There . . . will . . . be . . . no . . . more . . . wars.
"There will be no . . . more . . . killing . . .
. . . of . . . anyone’s . . . children.
Ever again . . . PERIOD."
And that is the greater tragedy in the Remembrance of Memorial Day.
Have always thought, " My kids can’t know this feeling. How could they? It’s not their fault. They weren’t young children in the early 40s when the war to end all wars was taking place. Posters, movies, newsreels, ration books, war bonds – being surrounded by the sights and sounds – albeit a safe few thousand miles away from the actual events." And yet they have now lived through similar wars and feelings.
Feelings similar, I imagine, to mine that erupt in tears and emotions that squeeze my heart whenever I hear patriotic and/or just plain old-fashioned songs from the 20's, 30's, and 40's.
And then I think, "What must God feel? What must He think looking down on His children – ALL his children – not just those of us who are "Amuricuns" . . . ?"
War was not invented by God. War was invented by humans . . . God’s children. Who believe their "tribe" is "the people" and anyone else is "the other". Lumped all together, the "other", then, become easy to despise . . . and hate . . . and kill. Down through the eons of time.
The bigger the tribe, the more advanced the civilization.
* * * *
"My, what big eyes you have . . . what big ears . . . what a big mouth . . . "" . . . the better to eat you with, my dear."
* * * * *
So, here I sit. On the one hand, an ultimate Patriot, formed by the time and place I grew up in. Yet realizing my feelings/experiences/memories are based on a national need – the need to give allegiance to my country and its agenda above all else. That is what every tribe, my "tribe", requires. As a woman of my time and place, that has been easy to embrace; an easy price for me to pay.
Not so for all the young men, and in more recent times, young women, who first were drafted, and now choose to serve their country, their "tribe".
Movies, slogans, posters, recruiters – propagandize and glorify the cause. Otherwise it could not evoke the patriotism needed to entice the boys and girls to proudly and joyfully sign up. To lay their lives on the line. For their country, their tribe. Yeay!
* * * * *
* * * * *
What if . . . All those presidents and heads of states – of all the countries – sat down in a meeting place somewhere and said – as I believe God would say –
"War is not the answer. Killing is not the answer. And all you kids are gonna sit here til you come up with a better solution. No TV, no bike riding, no treats. Nothing. Sit right here ‘til you come up with a better idea." (My kids, if they read this will say – hmmm, sounds famililar.)
Instead, here I sit. With my patriotism bubbling over. Always. At the same time knowing that is precisely what "the tribe" intends. We have to think we are bigger than, better than, gooder than . . . all the "others." Because the "others" will do their best to take from us everything we have worked so hard to get. Our way of life, our "stuff", and yes, of course, our freedoms.
Our freedoms – to speak or not speak, to believe or not believe, to succeed or not succeed.
So I project what would happen if . . .
If all these presidents and heads of state would sit down . . . one time . . . find that "better idea" and say . . .
"There . . . will . . . be . . . no . . . more . . . wars.
"There will be no . . . more . . . killing . . .
. . . of . . . anyone’s . . . children.
Ever again . . . PERIOD."
* * * * *
If it is so wrong to kill a child who has yet to see the light of day, why is it – has it always been – so okay to kill them once they’ve experienced daylight . . . the beauty of sunrise and sunset . . . of playing hopscotch and football . . . of reading Dr. Seuss and Tolstoy . . . of Sock Hops in the gym and walking hand-in-hand with their forever sweetheart . . . or holding a newborn baby in their arms for the first time . . . or . . .
* * * * *
Let’s face it. Call it like it is. War makes the world go round. And that is the greater tragedy in the Remembrance of Memorial Day.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Sarah’s Car Rental Saga Continues –- Tuesday, November 14, 2012
Tom calls around 2:30 p.m. "Did you get a car yet?"
"No, I called Hertz this morning. They said they would call me back. The rep I talked with was delivering a car and said he would have to wait til his partner arrived. Probably it would be after 1 p.m."
"Okay. Do you want Tramp to call them?"
"No. Not unless there’s a reason I don’t understand."
"Well, you know he’ll see to it you get a car."
"Yes, I appreciate that. I think I’ll call them myself first."
"Okay. Call me back when you ACTUALLY have a car."
"Okay."
"Give me the Enterprise number. Tramp wants to call them."
"Well . . . okay. It’s 931-380-9100. But I don’t understand why he needs it."
"Don’t worry; it’s okay."
So then I call Hertz and they ask for my address and say they are heading my way and should be here in about 20 minutes.
At approximately 3:45 p.m. A Hertz Rep drove some kind of vehicle onto my driveway. Not a 2-door, not a 4-door car. Me n' Rocky went out thru garage to meet him. He identified himself and asked asked for my credit card so I invited him in, apologizing for all the "stuff" in my garage (remnants from the 2 storage units I used to pay for before having a garage).
Then the phone rang. I apologized, excused myself and headed back inside. He waited in the driveway. It was Enterprise. They were calling to ask or request something, I don't know what. I told them, "Nevermind, I don't need to rent a car from you. You dropped the ball yesterday. I sent you my insurance verification and you never called back and so I called Hertz and they are here right now to take me to get my car. Thank you. Goodbye."
So then I ran back outside. I invited the Hertz rep inside and I got my credit card. We stood in the kitchen and he took my credit card info. Then he asked, "do you want to decline insurance coverage by Hertz?" I replied, "Yes." He had me initial a place on the contract to that effect in (3) places. (I am paying by credit card; Platinum MasterCard, which provides car rental insurance. Allstate will reimburse me). This took all of about three minutes.
Then he handed me the keys. "Here are your keys. You're good to go."
I was momentarily confused because I thought he was there to drive me to his office where I would pick up my rental. "This is your vehicle," he replied. A co-worker is picking me up and taking me back to office. In fact, he just pulled into your drive. Just sign the contract here."
So I did.
That's it? That simple??? WOW.
I will sing the praises of Hertz from now on. After I signed all the papers and the rep left in the other car that had pulled into my drive while we were signing papers, I walked all around the vehicle trying to find the NAME. All I ever saw was 4WD in the middle of the back and in the front.
So I got my grocery list and climbed into the vehicle to drive to Krogers. Except for pulling on the turn signal several times attempting to shift (the shift was on a console in the middle, I kept forgetting), and brakes 10 times more sensitive than my Crown Vic, I managed to drive off without any other difficulties.
What a nice driving vehicle. I could get used to this.
I pulled into Kroger’s parking lot (the scene of my recent fender bender) and carefully drove through the lanes til I found a parking spot. I exited the car, locked it, and headed towards the store marking a spot on the store facade to help me remember what lane I had parked in.
Then it occurred to me: I don’t even know what kind of vehicle I am driving, what if I forget where I parked after I get my groceries? (My own Crown Vic is white plus it has an IMI hard hat in the middle of the ledge behind the back rear window). Fortunately, along with the keys, the key chain Hertz gave me had a button-thingy with symbols for locking, unlocking, and an emergency beeper.
After Krogers, I stopped at the pet store to get some dog food. When I got there, I asked the guy who opened the door, "what kind of vehicle is this? A van?" He said, "No, it's an SUV." Oh.
So I entered, got my dog food, and drove home.
Moral of Story: Don’t shop Enterprise. Shop Hertz. The Good Guys!Sarah
"No, I called Hertz this morning. They said they would call me back. The rep I talked with was delivering a car and said he would have to wait til his partner arrived. Probably it would be after 1 p.m."
"Okay. Do you want Tramp to call them?"
"No. Not unless there’s a reason I don’t understand."
"Well, you know he’ll see to it you get a car."
"Yes, I appreciate that. I think I’ll call them myself first."
"Okay. Call me back when you ACTUALLY have a car."
"Okay."
"Give me the Enterprise number. Tramp wants to call them."
"Well . . . okay. It’s 931-380-9100. But I don’t understand why he needs it."
"Don’t worry; it’s okay."
So then I call Hertz and they ask for my address and say they are heading my way and should be here in about 20 minutes.
At approximately 3:45 p.m. A Hertz Rep drove some kind of vehicle onto my driveway. Not a 2-door, not a 4-door car. Me n' Rocky went out thru garage to meet him. He identified himself and asked asked for my credit card so I invited him in, apologizing for all the "stuff" in my garage (remnants from the 2 storage units I used to pay for before having a garage).
Then the phone rang. I apologized, excused myself and headed back inside. He waited in the driveway. It was Enterprise. They were calling to ask or request something, I don't know what. I told them, "Nevermind, I don't need to rent a car from you. You dropped the ball yesterday. I sent you my insurance verification and you never called back and so I called Hertz and they are here right now to take me to get my car. Thank you. Goodbye."
So then I ran back outside. I invited the Hertz rep inside and I got my credit card. We stood in the kitchen and he took my credit card info. Then he asked, "do you want to decline insurance coverage by Hertz?" I replied, "Yes." He had me initial a place on the contract to that effect in (3) places. (I am paying by credit card; Platinum MasterCard, which provides car rental insurance. Allstate will reimburse me). This took all of about three minutes.
Then he handed me the keys. "Here are your keys. You're good to go."
I was momentarily confused because I thought he was there to drive me to his office where I would pick up my rental. "This is your vehicle," he replied. A co-worker is picking me up and taking me back to office. In fact, he just pulled into your drive. Just sign the contract here."
So I did.
That's it? That simple??? WOW.
I will sing the praises of Hertz from now on. After I signed all the papers and the rep left in the other car that had pulled into my drive while we were signing papers, I walked all around the vehicle trying to find the NAME. All I ever saw was 4WD in the middle of the back and in the front.
So I got my grocery list and climbed into the vehicle to drive to Krogers. Except for pulling on the turn signal several times attempting to shift (the shift was on a console in the middle, I kept forgetting), and brakes 10 times more sensitive than my Crown Vic, I managed to drive off without any other difficulties.
What a nice driving vehicle. I could get used to this.
I pulled into Kroger’s parking lot (the scene of my recent fender bender) and carefully drove through the lanes til I found a parking spot. I exited the car, locked it, and headed towards the store marking a spot on the store facade to help me remember what lane I had parked in.
Then it occurred to me: I don’t even know what kind of vehicle I am driving, what if I forget where I parked after I get my groceries? (My own Crown Vic is white plus it has an IMI hard hat in the middle of the ledge behind the back rear window). Fortunately, along with the keys, the key chain Hertz gave me had a button-thingy with symbols for locking, unlocking, and an emergency beeper.
After Krogers, I stopped at the pet store to get some dog food. When I got there, I asked the guy who opened the door, "what kind of vehicle is this? A van?" He said, "No, it's an SUV." Oh.
So I entered, got my dog food, and drove home.
Moral of Story: Don’t shop Enterprise. Shop Hertz. The Good Guys!Sarah
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
DON’T MESS WITH W.O.W.
And NEVER EVER EVER EVER . . . .have a fender-bender . . .
. . . by a truck (or a car) backing into your rear side passenger door and back fender in the Kroger Parking Lot in Thompson Station (or anywhere).
First a Williamson Country sheriff’s deputy comes and makes his report; gets all the info, DL, insurance, et cetera et cetera. For both parties. He tells you there is nothing you need to do, just wait to hear from "her" insurance company. NOT.
Three weeks later when you have heard nothing you mention it to your D-I-L, a former deputy, who tells you, "Oh, I know that cop; he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. You need to call and report the accident to your insurance company."
So I did. Next day my insurance rep calls and gives me the name of "her" insurance guy (Allstate) who will handle the claim. Sends follow up email. I call him. He arranges for an estimator to come out. A few days later, the estimator comes by and makes his report and leaves me with his damage estimate.
So now I take the car to friend of Tom’s who does his body work. Honest good guy. He comes up with almost identical estimate, tells me to bring car back on Nov 12th and it will take 4-5 days for him to get the work done.
Yesterday a.m. I call Allstate to make sure they are going to pay for a rental car. Daniel (Allstate rep handling my claim) tells me to call Enterprise. He has already set up an order # with them for the rental. They will pay up to $24.95 per day for the rental.
I call Enterprise. They tell me to come at 4 p.m. when they will have a rental available. They tell me on the phone to bring driver’s license, credit card, and car insurance card.
I drive to Tom’s in Mt. Pleasant. Tramp drives me to drop off my car at Buzz’s Body Shop in Mt. Pleasant and later drives me over to Enterprise in Columbia.
Enterprise asks what my deductible is. I don’t understand the need for the question and that info doesn’t appear on insurance I.D. card. Enterprise rep explains they need to know if I have car rental insurance. I tell them Allstate rep, Daniel, asked me the same thing and when I said I didn’t know for sure without checking my policy but it was my understanding that I did have rental car coverage because I always asked my rep when renewing, "so the coverage I have means I am covered whatever car I’m driving, right? And they always answer, "right." Daniel then said, "Well, it doesn’t matter. We have accepted full liability for the accident, we will take care of it. So if Enterprise tries to talk you into buying insurance, don’t do it."
Great.
So now Enterprise tells me the order faxed over from Allstate doe not include car rental insurance. So I try to call Daniel at Allstate and get a recording that says, "this number is no longer in service."
WHAT? I dial again. Same thing. Enterprise employee dials and gets same thing.
What is going on? Is "Daniel" some scam artist in cahoots with Allstate to pretend they are taking care of me . . . til time to pay?
Enterprise calls the 800 number printed on my Allstate Claim Estimate. Gets thru but agent says Daniel is not available but they will give him the message to call.
So we wait . . .
We wait til 5 p.m. when everyone is closing up shop and Tramp offers to drive me home. He is my guardian angel . . . for today, at least.
So he drives me back to Spring Hill and then goes to P/U his prescription in Columbia and then drives home to Mt. Pleasant.
Next day
Tom calls and I try and give him the "short" version of my sad tale. Then I call Allstate 800 number again (Daniel’s direct line still says, "not in service".) She tells me she will walk down to Daniel’s office and give him the message but Allstate’s policy is NOT to pay for rental insurance. The complete opposite of what Daniel told me yesterday morning.
I am sure that when I talk to Daniel, since he specifically said, "we will pay" and "don’t let Enterprise talk you into purchasing their insurance coverage" there will be no problem. He will stand by his word.
NOT.
In the meantime, I call Anne and she reminds me that most credit cards offer car rental insurance IF you pay for the car rental with their card. Ta-Da! A solution.
When Daniel finally does call me back he tells me I misunderstood; he was saying Allstate would pay for the car rental. Since I now know rental insurance will be covered and neither I nor Allstate will be out any money I do not protest further. Even though that’s not what he said.
So now I call Enterprise and tell them I will pay for the car rental with my Master Card and Allstate will reimburse me. Enterprise says they must have proof in writing that I have car rental insurance.
I call Master Card and speak to agent who tells me to call a different number for validation of my benefits. I call that number and representative puts me on hold to verify. She returns to say I do, in fact, have car rental insurance if I use their card to pay for the car rental. YEAY!
I ask her to email me a statement to this effect. She emails me a statement that says,
"This letter confirms that your Platinum MasterCard Card provides MasterRental coverage. Therefore, vehicles rented with your card are eligible for coverage in United States. Please note that the coverage is subject to the terms and conditions of the MasterRental program.
Please refer to the MasterRental Guide to Benefits for a complete listing of the terms, conditions and exclusions associated with this program. This letter is in effect for 60 days from the date of issuance."
WHAT????
I can hear Enterprise now. "THAT is not proof of anything."
So now I go online to their website. After searching for 15 minutes looking for MasterRental Guide to Benefits, I find a page that says:
CAR RENTAL COLLISION DAMAGE WAIVER INSURANCE
Pays for covered damages (physical damage and theft) to a rental vehicle when your eligible Master Card card is used to initiate and pay for the entire rental transaction.
HAL-LE-LU-JAH!!!
So now I call Master Card back to ask HOW do they pay for this car rental insurance? Do they credit my card or send me a check or what?
They explain only the rental car fee is charged to my card. If I were to have an accident, a claim would be submitted and they would have to pay damages.
Now I call Enterprise once again to tell them I am emailing them 2 pages of proof of insurance asking them to verify and call me back to arrange to pick me up and deliver me to their office so I can rent the car.
I wait . . . And wait . . .
Now it is 4 p.m. Again. I call Enterprise. The man who answers tells me Ryan, who I have been talking with all day, has gone home and he can’t access Ryan’s email.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME????
He will contact Ryan and call me back. We hang up.
This really is beyond belief . . .
My gut tells me, "to hell with Enterprise" but first . . .
I call Allstate to make sure they don’t have some exclusive contract with Enterprise. I verify that I can go to any car rental company I want, pay for the rental on my card, and Allstate will reimburse me for the cost of the rental.
I call Hertz in Columbia and they advise their policy is similar to Enterprise. I can pay for the car rental on my credit card, they will keep my car rental insurance verification info on file . . . in case. They also will come and get me and take me to their office. So I tell them I will call them in the a.m.
Enterprise does not call back.
Moral Of The Story: Don’t mess with W.O.W.
The . . . Sleeping . . . Injustice . . . Activist . . . Awakes . . . (it’s been awhile).
So guess who’s getting letters describing all this? Let’s see . . .
Allstate, Enterprise, my senator, my house representative, head of consumer affairs, the mayor, the prez . . . and others I can’t think of right now.
I don’t care whether it does any good or not, it makes me feel better.
It’s the P--r--i--n--c--i--p--l--e of the matter.
And THAT'S the TRUTH! BBLLETTTHHH!
Sarah
. . . by a truck (or a car) backing into your rear side passenger door and back fender in the Kroger Parking Lot in Thompson Station (or anywhere).
First a Williamson Country sheriff’s deputy comes and makes his report; gets all the info, DL, insurance, et cetera et cetera. For both parties. He tells you there is nothing you need to do, just wait to hear from "her" insurance company. NOT.
Three weeks later when you have heard nothing you mention it to your D-I-L, a former deputy, who tells you, "Oh, I know that cop; he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. You need to call and report the accident to your insurance company."
So I did. Next day my insurance rep calls and gives me the name of "her" insurance guy (Allstate) who will handle the claim. Sends follow up email. I call him. He arranges for an estimator to come out. A few days later, the estimator comes by and makes his report and leaves me with his damage estimate.
So now I take the car to friend of Tom’s who does his body work. Honest good guy. He comes up with almost identical estimate, tells me to bring car back on Nov 12th and it will take 4-5 days for him to get the work done.
Yesterday a.m. I call Allstate to make sure they are going to pay for a rental car. Daniel (Allstate rep handling my claim) tells me to call Enterprise. He has already set up an order # with them for the rental. They will pay up to $24.95 per day for the rental.
I call Enterprise. They tell me to come at 4 p.m. when they will have a rental available. They tell me on the phone to bring driver’s license, credit card, and car insurance card.
I drive to Tom’s in Mt. Pleasant. Tramp drives me to drop off my car at Buzz’s Body Shop in Mt. Pleasant and later drives me over to Enterprise in Columbia.
Enterprise asks what my deductible is. I don’t understand the need for the question and that info doesn’t appear on insurance I.D. card. Enterprise rep explains they need to know if I have car rental insurance. I tell them Allstate rep, Daniel, asked me the same thing and when I said I didn’t know for sure without checking my policy but it was my understanding that I did have rental car coverage because I always asked my rep when renewing, "so the coverage I have means I am covered whatever car I’m driving, right? And they always answer, "right." Daniel then said, "Well, it doesn’t matter. We have accepted full liability for the accident, we will take care of it. So if Enterprise tries to talk you into buying insurance, don’t do it."
Great.
So now Enterprise tells me the order faxed over from Allstate doe not include car rental insurance. So I try to call Daniel at Allstate and get a recording that says, "this number is no longer in service."
WHAT? I dial again. Same thing. Enterprise employee dials and gets same thing.
What is going on? Is "Daniel" some scam artist in cahoots with Allstate to pretend they are taking care of me . . . til time to pay?
Enterprise calls the 800 number printed on my Allstate Claim Estimate. Gets thru but agent says Daniel is not available but they will give him the message to call.
So we wait . . .
We wait til 5 p.m. when everyone is closing up shop and Tramp offers to drive me home. He is my guardian angel . . . for today, at least.
So he drives me back to Spring Hill and then goes to P/U his prescription in Columbia and then drives home to Mt. Pleasant.
Next day
Tom calls and I try and give him the "short" version of my sad tale. Then I call Allstate 800 number again (Daniel’s direct line still says, "not in service".) She tells me she will walk down to Daniel’s office and give him the message but Allstate’s policy is NOT to pay for rental insurance. The complete opposite of what Daniel told me yesterday morning.
I am sure that when I talk to Daniel, since he specifically said, "we will pay" and "don’t let Enterprise talk you into purchasing their insurance coverage" there will be no problem. He will stand by his word.
NOT.
In the meantime, I call Anne and she reminds me that most credit cards offer car rental insurance IF you pay for the car rental with their card. Ta-Da! A solution.
When Daniel finally does call me back he tells me I misunderstood; he was saying Allstate would pay for the car rental. Since I now know rental insurance will be covered and neither I nor Allstate will be out any money I do not protest further. Even though that’s not what he said.
So now I call Enterprise and tell them I will pay for the car rental with my Master Card and Allstate will reimburse me. Enterprise says they must have proof in writing that I have car rental insurance.
I call Master Card and speak to agent who tells me to call a different number for validation of my benefits. I call that number and representative puts me on hold to verify. She returns to say I do, in fact, have car rental insurance if I use their card to pay for the car rental. YEAY!
I ask her to email me a statement to this effect. She emails me a statement that says,
"This letter confirms that your Platinum MasterCard Card provides MasterRental coverage. Therefore, vehicles rented with your card are eligible for coverage in United States. Please note that the coverage is subject to the terms and conditions of the MasterRental program.
Please refer to the MasterRental Guide to Benefits for a complete listing of the terms, conditions and exclusions associated with this program. This letter is in effect for 60 days from the date of issuance."
WHAT????
I can hear Enterprise now. "THAT is not proof of anything."
So now I go online to their website. After searching for 15 minutes looking for MasterRental Guide to Benefits, I find a page that says:
CAR RENTAL COLLISION DAMAGE WAIVER INSURANCE
Pays for covered damages (physical damage and theft) to a rental vehicle when your eligible Master Card card is used to initiate and pay for the entire rental transaction.
HAL-LE-LU-JAH!!!
So now I call Master Card back to ask HOW do they pay for this car rental insurance? Do they credit my card or send me a check or what?
They explain only the rental car fee is charged to my card. If I were to have an accident, a claim would be submitted and they would have to pay damages.
Now I call Enterprise once again to tell them I am emailing them 2 pages of proof of insurance asking them to verify and call me back to arrange to pick me up and deliver me to their office so I can rent the car.
I wait . . . And wait . . .
Now it is 4 p.m. Again. I call Enterprise. The man who answers tells me Ryan, who I have been talking with all day, has gone home and he can’t access Ryan’s email.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME????
He will contact Ryan and call me back. We hang up.
This really is beyond belief . . .
My gut tells me, "to hell with Enterprise" but first . . .
I call Allstate to make sure they don’t have some exclusive contract with Enterprise. I verify that I can go to any car rental company I want, pay for the rental on my card, and Allstate will reimburse me for the cost of the rental.
I call Hertz in Columbia and they advise their policy is similar to Enterprise. I can pay for the car rental on my credit card, they will keep my car rental insurance verification info on file . . . in case. They also will come and get me and take me to their office. So I tell them I will call them in the a.m.
Enterprise does not call back.
Moral Of The Story: Don’t mess with W.O.W.
The . . . Sleeping . . . Injustice . . . Activist . . . Awakes . . . (it’s been awhile).
So guess who’s getting letters describing all this? Let’s see . . .
Allstate, Enterprise, my senator, my house representative, head of consumer affairs, the mayor, the prez . . . and others I can’t think of right now.
I don’t care whether it does any good or not, it makes me feel better.
It’s the P--r--i--n--c--i--p--l--e of the matter.
And THAT'S the TRUTH! BBLLETTTHHH!
Sarah
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