Emissions

In my state, personal vehicles must undergo an emissions test every two years.  Oddly. they don't have to pass, but that's not part of the story (and not exactly the type of emissions I'm posting about).  I'm happy to report that the oldest vehicle in my aging fleet passed with no problem this weekend.

The young man who handled the test mentioned he wouldn't mind his car being older if it meant he didn't have to make car payments.  He likes his 2004 Mercury, but $7,000 was a lot to pay off by himself.  It's not a base model, it has a few high-end features.  Why are used cars so expensive?  Most people his age don't know what it's like to pay for things themselves.  It's hard.  The Mustang that he tested just before my car was so loud he had to turn down his hearing aids.  Why do people want their cars making that much noise?  Probably just desperate for attention.  He'd call the police if a neighbor made that much noise.  It was his last day working at the inspection station.  He has fibromyalgia and the work is too strenuous.  He doesn't have a new job lined up.  He'd like to work in an office.  But how do you get an office job when you don't have any office experience?  He would be a good worker.  He's studying Spanish.  It might be fun to work for a travel agency, to help people arrange trips to Spanish-speaking countries.

Then the 4-minute test was over and he told me the car passed.

My wife is right...it's me, isn't it? 

But unlike my previous post, I didn't mind this time.  Sooner or later we all need someone to just listen to us.  It's an easy thing to do for another human--except when it's not easy.  :)