Why I kept my old car

"$2,800," the mechanic said.
"Let me think about it." I sat on the couch in their reception area. My 1984 BMW had 150,000 miles on it, needed new tires, and was spewing out fluids on the garage floor from three places under the hood. The $2,800 covered all the current ailments so I could enjoy driving it again. I could put that money with what the car would sell for and make a down payment on a new one.
     Since we name our cars and he had come from Bavaria, I named him Gunter. He'd been taking me all over Alaska for the almost 30 years that he'd been quartered in my garage. Didn't know how I'd feel going into the garage and not seeing him there.
     My mind wandered back to the 2015 GMC SUV we rented for my Nebraska book tour last October. It had backup camera, sideview mirrors that showed half a county in each one, A/C that blasted you out of the seat, satellite radio, and a directional system GPS that we never got used to. And we were technologically up to date with my Apple Phone with Siri available at any moment.

     We wanted to go the supper at the Whiskey Creek Restaurant about two miles down the road and as a test, I asked my wife, Patti, if she would get directions from Siri. Patti dutifully brought Siri up and asked her for directions. We got out of the motel parking lot, turned onto a four lane freeway going the right direction and stopped at the first light. Siri said to turn right at the next intersection so I moved into the outside lane and got ready to turn. Then Siri said, "Proceed through the intersection and go 200 miles to Kansas."
     By that time I was on an interstate highway going 90 degrees away from where the restaurant was and headed for another state. I used one of the state police turnarounds that civilians are not supposed to use, to get back going the other way and found the restaurant. I shut off the phone.
     What I'd learned was that I'm not hip on this new technology. I like the feel of my car and I like to know that he is getting repaired like I am from time to time. Over the last ten years I've gotten crowns for teeth, two new hip joints and a change in prescription for my contact lens. Gunter is entitled to some new hoses, steering joints, cleaning out his A/C system, and a new set of tires. After all, we've got a ways to go yet and I'm not going to let Siri know where we are.