don't like my new car.  I made a mistake when I bought it.  I thought I had made a good purchase last December when I went into the dealership and told them the lease was up in my 98 model and I needed a new car.  Yes, I wanted another Explorer. Yes; I wanted the same model.

I drove a perfect one home, Lindsay helped pick out a green one, her favorite color.  I was worried it wouldn't fit in my garage but the size was perfect, it was a bit wider than my '98 model but heck! it was a new car.  I could adjust.  I was happy.

 I was happy with it for about a day, then I noticed the mirrors didn't have lights. Where is the compass? Oh my God, what kind of car was this?  What did I buy?  I don't understand, where is the sunglass case and my garage opener holders? I reached to the top of the car for the lights; they are not there! What's going on here?

I bought the wrong model.  Gees, how dumb a mistake can that be?  I called the dealer, he said this is the car I picked out, I got an XLS instead of an XLT and they won't exchange it.  It's considered an used car now; I put on too many miles already.  I'll have to wait another three years before I can get a new one with all the similarities of my old one. I can't believe I've made such a stupid mistake.

After loading the car for the trip and closing the hatch, I was ready for the bikes.  I dug the heavy bike rack from deep in the garage with much effort. When I tried to mount it on the hitch, it doesn't fit the way is supposed to.  I try again, what's wrong with this thing? I look at it again as if I've never done this before.  I'm starting to get annoyed now.  I've done this a million times, what the…?

It doesn't fit.  The hitch is too small.  Now I'm mad, I've had it.  I call the dealer and ask why my bicycle rack does not fit.  The nice man at the parts department tells me that I used to have a two-inch hitch on my old car; this one is only one inch.  Who would think of changing the size of the hitch on a car when everyone else is using a two-inch?  Ford, of course.  What's this?  A game?  Do they want people to spend more money bringing it back for the right size? I find it costs $180.00 to change it. 

I call several recreational vehicles stores to find if I could just buy an adapter.  None of them have ever heard of such a thing as an adapter from one to two inch hitches.  They just don't make them, one has to change the whole hitch altogether.

 My trip is all set up, I can't wait three days for the parts department at the dealer to order a new hitch.  We'll have to leave without the bikes.  What a shame, no bike riding.  I'm so angry I have to take a walk around the block to calm down.  Finally I resign myself to leaving without bikes.  I decide we can always rent them wherever we go if we really want to ride. 

Two days later I'm checking into a hotel because there's no room on the campgrounds near Lake Havasu.  The is the last hotel we'll check, if there's no room, we are out of there, this is ridiculous, this is no vacation, this is a mad rush to have fun.  I'll never agree to do that.

Travelodge is as decent as is going to get for tonight. As I drive by I miss the main entrance. I decide to drive in through the back. There’s an empty, sandy lot.  Sure, I drive a Sports Utility Vehicle; it should be able to handle moving through the sand.  Lindsay warns me not to do it.  I don't heed her of course. Without a second thought I drive through it, in a split second my back right tire is a foot into the sand.  Ok, so where is that four wheel drive I need now to get out of this hole?  Of course, nowhere!  I don't have a four-wheel drive.

Before getting help I try to move the car while Lindsay is at the wheel.  What a joke, I can't even make the darn thing rock.  Instead, I get deeper and deeper into the hole.  All I get is sand on my face and all over my clothes as she steps on the gas too much and sends the dust all over me.  Now I'm laughing at my misfortune, this is got to be the funniest thing that ever happened to me.  Luckily is not even noon yet, so I don't have to worry about safety in the area.

I run to the front of the building to get help.  There are students all over the hotel parking lot.  I wave at two of them who were getting out of their car.  They, in turn, call several others to come over and help move the car out of the sand pit.  I stay out of the way; this is no place for women.  Now I know why God made men strong.

For the next half hour several men try to get the car out of the sand pit.  They push, they pull, they rock, and they try to lift it, all to no avail.  Each time they try, the car digs deeper into the sand.  Worse, there's no place to grab a hold on the front of the car, it seems is all made out of plastic and no secure base to get a good hold of it.  I admire the strong muscles of the young man when he literally lifts the car off the ground, along with the bumper that threatens to come off.  I'm totally shocked at the shoddy way this car is built.  What if I get into an accident? Will the whole engine end up in my chest on a head on collision?  All these thoughts worry me that I have not made a good decision in this purchase. However, I'm consoled at the view of so many young, strong students so willing to help.

Another half hour goes by.  I worry about the water bottles and cooler I left at the beach in care of a nice couple to save our place.  Unfortunately there's nothing I can do at this point so I might as well not worry.  If someone is interested in 24 bottles of water and lots of campground food, they are welcome to them.
 
 The truck finally shows up, one of the guys helps him hook the chain to the hitch of my car.  Finally this hitch plays a part, one that I didn't want to.  Soon my car is out of the pit.  The cute guy driving it into the pavement gets photographed.  I invite them to come to the beach for a beer and tell them how grateful I am.  They are happy to help.
 
 I drive to the front of the hotel, get our room as quickly as possible and head to the beach cabana for an afternoon of water, sun and relaxing.  The man whom I left in charge of my cooler and water was wondering if I was hoax.  He approached me and questioned why I was so late.  I explained the best I could what had happened. He gives me a strange look.  This experience was too much excitement for me already. 

I learned I need to seek help in buying a car that's dependable and has all the features I need and want in a car.  I also learned that I should find out what features I CURRENTLY have in my car before attempting to use them.  I'm thinking seriously of trading the car for another once I get home.  I'm not so sure about getting another Ford Explorer.  The other one suited me fine, but it seems the new 2002 models are not all they're cracked up to be.

As the evening wore out and the sun sets over the Arizona horizon, I saw another car stuck in the sand.  This time, several drunken students wanted to drive their small car by the beach.  I was glad I had nothing to drink that day and didn't look as foolish as these guys.  I just smiled and kept looking at the moon rising opposite the sunset.  It was so awesome that all the heartaches of the day seemed very far away now.  I continued dreaming as I usually do when the moon is full.