I’m late for the Things I Learned carnival. Mostly because by Monday night I couldn’t pinpoint anything of interest that I’d learned this week.
That changed today my friends.
Today I learned that I’ve learned a lot in my life. Granted, it’s knowledge I’ve acquired over a lifetime, but only today did I realize how far I’ve come.
I picked my car up from the shop this afternoon. And then I met Jeff at the rental car place. When I got there he was inside turning over the cigarette smoke reekin’ piece o youknowwhat Dodge caravan that they’d so graciously charged us out the yingyang for. Upon exiting the building I stopped to admire the newly restored front bumper on my beloved (though formerly under appreciated) Odyssey. That unblemished bumper? It’s a thing of beauty. It made my heart skip.
Until.
Until my eyes landed on a sizable new dent in the front passenger door.
Of course I could barely contain my dialing fingers as they punched in the body shop’s number on my cell phone keypad. The owner told me to come right back so he could have a look.
Duh.
So back we went to the shop where we were greeted by a defensive shop owner and an even more defensive secretary. Why was the secretary defensive you ask? Because she’d been the one who checked me in two days before. Together we’d walked around my car and had identified all the little door dings and chips in the paint. She’d not made any notation of the big ‘ol dent in the door because she hadn’t seen it.
Neither had I.
Whether or not it was there is the question of the hour.
Not surprisingly the shop owners deny any responsibility. Not surprisingly I disagree.
Here’s where the learning curve comes in.
Not so long ago my combative self would have taken over. I’d likely have spouted off without thinking and threatened a lawsuit or something. Because I’m nothing if not level-headed.
I surprised myself this time though. There were no threats. No harsh words spoken in haste. Nothing that would have embarrassed me once my blood returned to its normal 98.6.
Jeff and I came to an agreement with the owner. They’re going to send a mobile dent repair guy out to our house tomorrow. He’s going to attempt a repair. The shop is going to split the cost with us.
Not exactly what I’d hoped for. It saves us the hassle and heartache of a lengthy battle though, so we agreed.
This probably seems like a no brainer to many of you. And me too, now. There was a time though when I would have vehemently denied any compromise and agreed only to what I believed was just.
But I’m tired of fighting.
So I sorta let them win. And only then did I realize that I win too.
Wish I’d learned this long ago.
Head over to Musings of a Housewife for more life lessons.
