GO WEST YOUNG MAN

I never made it. To the Dentist that is.

Oh, I got everything in order around the house this morning. All my little morning projects finished, including my daily letter to Mom. I was all packed & ready.

Two of the three cats were in the house when I left -- Nibblets, naturally, was outside -- as I made my planned departure time of 7:45 A.M.

Right off, leaving the driveway, I noticed the truck seemed a bit sluggish. I no sooner turned off my road, then the warning light on the dash illuminated -- CHECK ENGINE.

That's not something you really want to see at the start of a 300 mile round trip. I guess I failed to point out previously, my Dentist -- Dr. Midyett -- is in Memphis.

I drove a bit further, wondering to myself if the warning light was something I could ignore. Just then the truck gave several shutters. I turned the truck around & drove it home. I had only gone about a mile.

I made two phone calls when arriving home:
1] I called Memphis & canceled/rescheduled my dental appointment.
2] A quick call to my truck dealer advising them I was coming.

So, instead of heading East on Interstate 40 to Memphis, I was headed in the opposite direction; I-30 heading WEST, to Benton, Arkansas.

Four hours later, I was headed back home, this time going EAST on Interstate 30. My wallet was lighter by $670, but spark plugs, wires, rotor cap, intake & throttle body & a bunch of caskets were replaced, as well as a leaking thermostat fixed. I even got an oil change.

[POST EDIT, POST CHANGE: YES -- AS POINTED OUT IN COMMENTS I'VE RECEIVED -- "A BUNCH OF CASKETS" WOULD BE HEAVY & WOULD HAVE CAUSED/ADDED TO THE HESITATION I WAS EXPERIENCING WITH MY TRUCK. ALSO, IF OCCUPIED, THE "CASKETS" WOULD HAVE WEIGHTED EVEN MORE. MUCH BETTER TO GO WITH LIGHTER WEIGHT -- & CHEAPER -- "GASKETS" INSTEAD.]

Next week, when I again try to go to the Dentist in Memphis, my truck will be in tip-top shape for the trip. I hope my teeth will do as well while I am there.