Oasis On Western Avenue
Rain Clouds
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary,
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Rainy Day
It was one of those chilly April nights when trouble sneaks up silently. As I slept, some inconsiderate rapscallion sideswiped my parked car and the car parked behind me, inflicting considerable damage.
It is difficult to imagine this happening in the middle of a residential block, on a wide street with plenty of room, with parked cars lining both sides of the street—unless of course the speeding driver had been ingesting impairing substances.
Regardless of circumstance, I heard nothing, since windows were closed and my bedroom is at the rear of my apartment, far from the front street. Neighbors who did respond report that the reprobates responsible had lost their own front bumper, that likely had a license plate attached, but who also quickly returned to claim the bumper and with it any chance of determining identity.
My insurance company was fairly reasonable about friction, although I did have to make two trips to their recommended repair shop about a 20 minute drive from my apartment. My car was still driveable. Ultimately, they declared it a total loss, a caveat in the policy that limits their liability.
Finding a Way
Lift gaate, rear bumper, tail lamp assembly, right rear panel, side scratched, broken mirror, they got it all.
After a little research from an internet friend, I determined that my best course of action was to retain ownership of the car, and accept a cash settlement at market value, minus the insurance deductible and the salvage value.
Cash flow and having a suitable vehicle for my lifestyle were paramount concerns.
| Criterion | Keep and Have Repaired | Surrender and Purchase Another Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| Minimize Cash Flow | Clearly the optimal solution. After repair costs, no additional monthly payments. | Even after making a down payment with the cash settlement, there would likely be a series of expensive consumer loan payments. |
| Have a Vehicle That Satisfied My Needs | I need to haul photographic gear to a variety of events that I take photos for. Sufficient space is important | A "new" used vehicle is likely to be less than space friendly because of the need to minimize cash flow requirements. |
| Have a Vehicle With a Known History | I have maintained the vehicle over the years I've had it. I know what needs to be done to keep it running. | A used vehicle has an unknown history and often those surprise repair bills are discovered after purchase, with no recourse. The whole proposition is riskier. |
I looked at the repair estimate from the Insurance Company's recommended repair shop. I decided it was very favorable—to both the Insurance Company and the Repair Shop. But I have an edge in that regard.
I recently had my front bumper cover replaced because I had torn it loose by backing out of a parking place with a high curb that had hooked the underside of the bumper, preventing it from moving backward with the car. I had done some prior shopping, so I had some idea of how to proceed.
That front bumper cover was eventually replaced by The Body Shop Chicago very close to my apartment on Chicago's Western Avenue. Their work was first-class and fairly priced. I took the car over to them, explained my budget that was the payout from the insurance company, and they said they could work with that.
They were busy, and asked me to wait a week or so, which seemed reasonable. After about a week and a half they said to bring the car in, and I dropped it off.
I walked the two miles back to my apartment, since I can always use a little more exercise.
The Big Reveal
Repairs Completed; Looks better than when I bought it.
I called a couple of times to see how work was proceeding, and each time was asked for more time. I had already anticipated some delay, since it is probably not easy to find parts for a 2006 Chevy Uplander.
At last the big day arrived, and they told me I could pick up the car. I again walked the two miles over to The Body Shop, walked in, and prepared to pay the bill.
But wait! There's a problem. The passenger side rear view mirror has not been replaced. Val (I think that's his name) explained that the part had not yet arrived but was expected next week and could I bring the car back in a week's time? It would only take one hour or less to install the new mirror.
As far as the rest of the repairs, they were excellent. I couldn't tell there had ever been any damage. So I agreed, signed off on the repairs, and drove my shiny almost-new car back home.
The Unexpected Conclusion of All This Brouhaha
During the next couple of weeks I kept saying to myself, "Self. You should go have that mirror fixed, before they forget about it." Finally, I decided to make the two-mile trip to have the mirror fixed.
A man who stands outside his own front door has the hardest part of the journey behind him.
—Dutch Proverb
I walked in to the office and stood before Val's desk as he finished a phone call. Then he looked up and asked me for the key. I asked, "You know why I'm here?" He just nodded, took the key, and told me to have a seat on the old sofa beneath the front windows of the Shop.
Val disappeared into the working bowels of the business, that Google Earth reveals is fairly extensive despite the rather modest appearance of the facade facing Western Avenue. I grabbed a piece of hard candy from a bowl and sat down on the sofa.
The Shop Quality Assurance and Security Officer, an Auburn colored Pomeranian had been sleeping in an easy chair for some time, but now looked up at me and apparently decided that a long term stay required a more serious certification than I had been previously given. It jumped down from its perch and walked across to my sofa.
I was then subjected to intense olfactory examination about the shoes and ankles; it was a pretty extended bout of sniffing. Eventually, I slowly offered the back of my hand, which was similarly sniffed extensively, ending with a licking by its raspy little tongue.
I sat back into browsing my cell phone, and the Assurance and Security officer jumped up on the sofa, snuggled in beside me, and resumed napping, along with quietly snoring. I occasionally reached down and scratched behind its tiny ears.
End of Reverie
Finally, Val announced my car was ready for me. As I got up, the Pomeranian jumped to the floor and returned to its customary easy chair on the other side of the office. And indeed, my car was ready, and the mirror was repaired at last. The final part of this urban drama had been completed.
I pulled out into the hustle and congestion of Western Avenue, arguably the longest straight street contained within a single urban entity, extending about 24 miles from end to end. It's four lanes wide plus parking and bike lanes, has numerous traffic signals, and drivers routinely exceed speed limits. It is probably the most heavily traveled North-South thoroughfare in the city, and since commercial vehicles are prohibited on Lake Shore Drive, Western Avenue sees more than its share of heavy truck traffic.
Driving Western Avenue is a far cry from sitting on a comfortable old sofa with a Pomeranian sleeping and snoring at your side.
In a city where noise, speed, and congestion often dominate, it's a rare pleasure to discover a pocket of calm and companionship nestled behind a modest facade. Truly, an Oasis on Western Avenue.
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