What a week!
I've just returned from a trip. Almost nobody knew I went on it un til it was nearly over. Now I can write about it.
On Thursday, 04OCT07, I flew to Philadelphia. I drove back in what used to be known as "David's Subaru." The title is in both our names, so I own it equally. In a completely legal sense, I own it exactly as much as him. Here's the first draft of the letter I've crafted to let him know:
I’m writing to let you know that I have decided how to resolve the situation with the vehicles.
As you well know, we had a verbal agreement that you would get to keep both of the paid-off cars when you made me leave my home. In return, you agreed to pay the truck off. Unfortunately, I trusted you enough that I didn’t get any of that in writing. You broke your side of the agreement and the truck is getting repossessed. So I came to Pennsylvania last week and I took the Subaru. You no longer have to worry about it.
Now you have a decision to make. You have the choice to completely sever the last ties we have, or you can keep me in your life for many, many years.
You can sign over the Subaru to me. I will, in turn, sign the Honda over to you. They are the last connections we have. I am not going to negotiate anything. It’s really that simple. You can have me gone, once and for all. I’m willing to keep the Subaru until it goes to the junk yard. You can do the same with the Honda if you choose.
I have given my attorney in Utah specific instructions regarding this matter. He will refuse all calls from you or your attorney unless it is specifically to handle the transfer of the two cars. Any attempt at negotiation will be ignored. This is to be an even trade - your signature for mine.
This was not without cost to me. I found out a few weeks ago that the car was in the shop. I called and found out that David had thrown a rod. It needed a new engine. Jerry, the mechanic, couldn't find a used one because it's sort of rare. This is a 2002 Subaru WRX with a turbo engine....
I've known Jerry longer than I've known David. I arranged to pay for the new engine if he would not tell David. I explained how he had agreed to pay for the truck, then renegged, etc. He was all for it. In fact, he said David had dropped off the car more than a month ago and he hadn't heard from him since. Jerk!
Everything went relatively smoothly. I had expected to pick it up on Friday, but it wasn't done until almost noon on Saturday. I had to start my drive back on Saturday because I only have 6 days off. I just took it easy for the first 600 to 700 miles and checked the fluids every time I stopped for gas. I needed to add 1 liter of water to the coolant resevoir once and two quarts of oil for the whole trip. It did smoke for quite some time, but that's just burn-off from the grease used in the installation. I talked to Jerry yesterday morning, and he said to expect that for several thousand miles. Oh well.
I felt bad that I drove across the country and didn't visit anyone. However, I was really pressed for time and I ended up taking a route that didn't allow it. I drove 2394 miles in about two and half days. I stopped Saturday and Sunday nights at motels. I also had to stop often to stretch my legs. The Subaru is a bit cramped and mine is not a bucket-seat ass!
I did not tell anyone except Tina, Patrick and Irene that I was in town. Tina was a big help. She picked me up at the airport and let me stay at her house while I was there. Patrick and Irene both helped to coordinate the events leading up to "the grab," so I couldn't do the deed without seeing them. I spent quite a bit of time, relatively, with Irene. I was actually in town for less than 48 hours. We went out to dinner with Tina and Don Thursday night. Then we spent the afternoon shopping! We met Patrick for a sushi dinner Friday night. Saturday morning was spent getting the car, test-driving it, taking it back for a minor adjustment, then leaving.
I found that I do miss quite a few things from the area. I guess that's not surprising. I spent nearly half my life there. It's a different world from Utah! However, I found myself referring to here as "home" several times.
OMG! This is so funny! David had his EZPass in the car. It's for paying tolls electronically. When I was on the PA Turnpike, it wasn't working. (The battery is probably dead.) I had this happen to me a few years ago. EZPass will send him a photo of his car and license plate, as well as the location of the tolls. I think it would be supremely funny if he gets that before my letter! He finds out his precious car is gone by getting a photo of the ass-end of it going west!
On Thursday, 04OCT07, I flew to Philadelphia. I drove back in what used to be known as "David's Subaru." The title is in both our names, so I own it equally. In a completely legal sense, I own it exactly as much as him. Here's the first draft of the letter I've crafted to let him know:
I’m writing to let you know that I have decided how to resolve the situation with the vehicles.
As you well know, we had a verbal agreement that you would get to keep both of the paid-off cars when you made me leave my home. In return, you agreed to pay the truck off. Unfortunately, I trusted you enough that I didn’t get any of that in writing. You broke your side of the agreement and the truck is getting repossessed. So I came to Pennsylvania last week and I took the Subaru. You no longer have to worry about it.
Now you have a decision to make. You have the choice to completely sever the last ties we have, or you can keep me in your life for many, many years.
You can sign over the Subaru to me. I will, in turn, sign the Honda over to you. They are the last connections we have. I am not going to negotiate anything. It’s really that simple. You can have me gone, once and for all. I’m willing to keep the Subaru until it goes to the junk yard. You can do the same with the Honda if you choose.
I have given my attorney in Utah specific instructions regarding this matter. He will refuse all calls from you or your attorney unless it is specifically to handle the transfer of the two cars. Any attempt at negotiation will be ignored. This is to be an even trade - your signature for mine.
This was not without cost to me. I found out a few weeks ago that the car was in the shop. I called and found out that David had thrown a rod. It needed a new engine. Jerry, the mechanic, couldn't find a used one because it's sort of rare. This is a 2002 Subaru WRX with a turbo engine....
I've known Jerry longer than I've known David. I arranged to pay for the new engine if he would not tell David. I explained how he had agreed to pay for the truck, then renegged, etc. He was all for it. In fact, he said David had dropped off the car more than a month ago and he hadn't heard from him since. Jerk!
Everything went relatively smoothly. I had expected to pick it up on Friday, but it wasn't done until almost noon on Saturday. I had to start my drive back on Saturday because I only have 6 days off. I just took it easy for the first 600 to 700 miles and checked the fluids every time I stopped for gas. I needed to add 1 liter of water to the coolant resevoir once and two quarts of oil for the whole trip. It did smoke for quite some time, but that's just burn-off from the grease used in the installation. I talked to Jerry yesterday morning, and he said to expect that for several thousand miles. Oh well.
I felt bad that I drove across the country and didn't visit anyone. However, I was really pressed for time and I ended up taking a route that didn't allow it. I drove 2394 miles in about two and half days. I stopped Saturday and Sunday nights at motels. I also had to stop often to stretch my legs. The Subaru is a bit cramped and mine is not a bucket-seat ass!
I did not tell anyone except Tina, Patrick and Irene that I was in town. Tina was a big help. She picked me up at the airport and let me stay at her house while I was there. Patrick and Irene both helped to coordinate the events leading up to "the grab," so I couldn't do the deed without seeing them. I spent quite a bit of time, relatively, with Irene. I was actually in town for less than 48 hours. We went out to dinner with Tina and Don Thursday night. Then we spent the afternoon shopping! We met Patrick for a sushi dinner Friday night. Saturday morning was spent getting the car, test-driving it, taking it back for a minor adjustment, then leaving.
I found that I do miss quite a few things from the area. I guess that's not surprising. I spent nearly half my life there. It's a different world from Utah! However, I found myself referring to here as "home" several times.
OMG! This is so funny! David had his EZPass in the car. It's for paying tolls electronically. When I was on the PA Turnpike, it wasn't working. (The battery is probably dead.) I had this happen to me a few years ago. EZPass will send him a photo of his car and license plate, as well as the location of the tolls. I think it would be supremely funny if he gets that before my letter! He finds out his precious car is gone by getting a photo of the ass-end of it going west!