by Dawn LeAnn
While there are many different modes of transportation, having a vehicle certainly is one of life’s luxuries. With it though comes the inherent responsibilities of insurance, gas, maintenance, and a possible car payment.
Without a vehicle my opportunities were very limited, which is why I refer to it as a luxury item. Sometimes all a person needs is that first vehicle for the doors of opportunity to begin to open. At least that's how it worked for me.
Before I ever had my first vehicle, I walked a lot. Anywhere and everywhere I had to go, I walked. While undeniably good for my health, it also had its drawbacks. For one, I certainly couldn't get anywhere too quickly, and I soon became known as the girl who was always late. At some point along the way, I upgraded to a bicycle. Not some fancy street bike, hybrid, or trail bike though. Just an old green bicycle with white-walled tires and a rusty old basket that could hold a couple small bags of groceries. Still good exercise, but not without its limitations as well.
Just before my 27th birthday I finally got my driver's license. I then used my tax return to put $300 down on a $1200 Pontiac Sunbird. To say I was excited would be somewhat of an understatement. I was in fact so excited that I could hardly see straight. It was almost as though the skies had opened or the sea had parted, as the doors of opportunity opened wide and began to present to me all that once seemed far beyond my reach.
I immediately signed up for school, and nine months later I was a part-time employee with the County of San Joaquin, in a respectable job with lots of potential for upward mobility. At long last the chains of bondage had been lifted and I had a new-found freedom. I could finally get to where I needed to be in as little time as possible. Once I had that first car, I was rarely late. I felt as though I could finally go anywhere and do anything.
For most people who are in the midst of a rough patch, just to have a vehicle that can get them from point A to point B is all they really need for that extra boost.
So, whether a person has a vehicle that is in need of mechanical work, or no vehicle at all, the question I would like to pose is this: Do you think that simply having a dependable vehicle is all it might take to open up the number of better paying jobs a person can apply for?
My question of course is rhetorical, as I fully believe the answer to be yes.