Watching for Sunrise

 As I said yesterday, Volunteer Bev went on a holiday to Branson, MO along w/ Volunteer Carol.  They had gotten as far as Ames, Iowa when Bev noticed that, even though the car was on cruise control, it was losing speed.  Applying a little gas and it sped up again.  When they stopped at the light on an on-ramp for the freeway the car refused to move further.  On-Star called a tow truck for them.  A large puddle of transmission fluid was under the car when the truck picked it up.  On-Star hadn't called police nor a lift for them so the truck driver let them ride in the cab w/ him back to a Chevy dealership.  The mechanic there said it would take a week to fix.  Bev asked if the dealership had a loaner car they could use while their car was being fixed.  Yes but for liability reasons it could only be driven intrastate.  Bev called Enterprise Car Rental.  They delivered a car to the garage and Bev and Carol were on their way again.  They enjoyed a great week in Branson.   Before leaving Branson, Bev called Mechanic Max (she was on first name basis by now) to check on her car's status.   Max said they were waiting on parts (three bolts) and it would be another week before the car would be ready.  Bev called Enterprise to get another week extension on her rental contract and Bev and Carol started for home.  Midway back their rental car's dash flashed a "Service Engine Soon" message.  Well, 'soon' is a relative term and they figured they would just tell Enterprise when they dropped the car off.  Another 100 miles or so and the message changed to "Service Engine Immediately".  Bev called Enterprise.  No problem, Enterprise assured her.  They service their cars more often than recommended by the manufacturer and this is a message they have programmed into the car's system.   Bev and Carol could finish their trip in safety.  At this point in Bev's story I was in awe. Bev had handled all of these obstacles w/ aplomb and hadn't let them affect her holiday.  Of course, I thought, the story wasn't yet over.  What had gone wrong w/ her car?  That car still had to be picked up from Ames.  There were hundreds of dollars to be paid to the mechanic and for the rental.   There is a happy ending!  Turns out Bev had bought her car new last year from the local Chevy dealership.  Max had determined the problem was caused by improper assembly at the factory so Chevy was picking up all expenses including the rental car.  Plus, when her car is ready, the dealership here, where she bought the car, will divert one of their car transport trucks to Ames and deliver her car back home.