The Little Engine That Could
Do you all remember that cute childhood story about the blue train that tried to climb a mountain? "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."
Well, that's exactly what was going on with my little blue car as we climbed the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee.
This past weekend, I took a trip with my kids to Ohio to visit my dad. We drove. Going there was no problem. (It's a 14 hour drive.) Coming home? Well, that was another story. As we got into the mountains of northern Kentucky, my engine light went on. Something was wrong. I didn't get too bent out of shape over it because I thought it might've had something to do with needing an oil change. But then the car started knocking and bucking and stuttering...right when we were going up a steep mountain. I thought for sure it was going to stall right there in the middle of the mountain.
"What's going on?" my daughter asked, her voice rising a few pitches.
"I don't know," I said, navigating to the far right lane. "The engine light is on."
"Is the car going to blow up?"
"I hope not."
"I don't want to die!"
"I'll do my best to not have that happen."
When the trouble started, we were 5 1/2 hours from our home in Atlanta. I struggled trying to decide if I should find a mechanic in Kentucky or try to get closer to home. I opted for the latter.
We crawled through the mountains, barely faster than 40 miles per hour. First through Kentucky, then Tennessee, and then over some smaller ones in Georgia. Even the giant semi-trucks flew past us. And of course it rained on top of it. It was the most harrowing ride ever!
I don't know how we made it, but nine hours later, we did. All the way through it, I kept thinking, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." Just like the Little Engine Who Could.
Apparently, positive thinking helps!
Endnote: The car is getting repaired now. Something short-circuited in the engine and caused it to not allow enough oil into it. It was in complete "limp mode." It should be better shortly.
Well, that's exactly what was going on with my little blue car as we climbed the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee.
This past weekend, I took a trip with my kids to Ohio to visit my dad. We drove. Going there was no problem. (It's a 14 hour drive.) Coming home? Well, that was another story. As we got into the mountains of northern Kentucky, my engine light went on. Something was wrong. I didn't get too bent out of shape over it because I thought it might've had something to do with needing an oil change. But then the car started knocking and bucking and stuttering...right when we were going up a steep mountain. I thought for sure it was going to stall right there in the middle of the mountain.
"What's going on?" my daughter asked, her voice rising a few pitches.
"I don't know," I said, navigating to the far right lane. "The engine light is on."
"Is the car going to blow up?"
"I hope not."
"I don't want to die!"
"I'll do my best to not have that happen."
When the trouble started, we were 5 1/2 hours from our home in Atlanta. I struggled trying to decide if I should find a mechanic in Kentucky or try to get closer to home. I opted for the latter.
We crawled through the mountains, barely faster than 40 miles per hour. First through Kentucky, then Tennessee, and then over some smaller ones in Georgia. Even the giant semi-trucks flew past us. And of course it rained on top of it. It was the most harrowing ride ever!
I don't know how we made it, but nine hours later, we did. All the way through it, I kept thinking, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." Just like the Little Engine Who Could.
Apparently, positive thinking helps!
Endnote: The car is getting repaired now. Something short-circuited in the engine and caused it to not allow enough oil into it. It was in complete "limp mode." It should be better shortly.
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