Hope and the Economics of Auto Repairs

After spending $800 on a rebuilt transmission, I was hoping I wouldn't have any car trouble for a while. But my car was involved in a slight fender-bender Friday that, thankfully, wasn't my fault. The left tail light and bumper will have to be replaced, and that's all. I got my first estimate today, and the repair will cost more than half the value of the car. Seriously? Another time, someone backed into my car, crunching the hood. The insurance company wanted to total it, but I insisted on the repair because I couldn't find a comparable car for what they wanted to give me.

This makes at least the third time someone has backed into my car. I'm beginning to think it might have something to do with the color: midnight blue. Perhaps the size figures as well; it's small four-door 1998 Ford Escort. Maybe it's just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The person at fault has offered to let me drive his big truck while repairs are getting made. I'm only hoping I can afford the gas!