CAR TALK

                        I have never been fascinated by cars and how they work. I just want the car to run. And I really would like to go back to the days when you pulled into a filling station, and a happy attendant ran out, put gas in the car, cleaned the windshield, and checked under the hood if you asked. And put air in the tires if needed. Remember those days?

Putting air in the tires is the job I dislike the most. You have to almost stand on your head to do the job, and the tire pressure gauge is hard for me to read. And the one parking spot by the air pump at the local gas station is usually taken. So when the little symbol on the dashboard popped up yesterday, I groaned. Of course first I had to dig out the car manual for the list of all the little symbols that light up, but I was pretty sure this symbol meant low tire pressure. And it did.

Rather than drive down to the gas station, I dug out the air compressor and plugged it into the charger. When it was charged, I lugged it out to the car and dutifully checked the pressure of all the tires with the tire pressure gauge, squinting at each reading, and added air from the compressor. The dial on the compressor was a mystery to me, so I had to keep checking the pressure with the gauge. None of the tires seemed particularly low. I turned on the engine. The little symbol on the dashboard glowed. I said a bad word.

So today I decided I would have to throw myself on the mercy of the local gas station mechanics and ask them to check the tires. I hated to do it. I knew I would feel very stupid, and my banner of independence would droop badly. To my surprise, the parking spot by the air pump was empty so I grabbed it. Maybe I should just try adding more air, I thought to myself. The left rear tire was a little low, the other three were fine; I added some air, coiled up the air hose, and got back in the car. I turned on the engine. The little symbol on the dashboard was gone. I drove home, humming a happy tune.

I think it will be easier next time, but I still hate standing on my head.