No, not men decked out in wigs, lipstick and sequins...I'm talking about those sometimes difficult and often taken-for-granted items we know as Automatic Transmissions.

In October I bought a new-to-me 2005 Mercury Sable with 40k miles on it. It was a good price, in good condition, but out of factory warranty. With my 1998 Taurus, (virtually the same car) we had few major problems with it; just inconvenient little things requiring inexpensive DIY repairs...until, of course, last year when the poor thing literally fell apart.

Friday, while driving my husband to the train station, child riding in the backseat, I felt that tell-tale "clunk." The transmission started slipping out of gear. As our ride continued the problem got worse until I could not drive out of first gear. I doubted I'd even make it the 3 miles home...so I put on my hazards and coasted 2 blocks up the street to an AAMCO station. THANK GOD they were still taking customers that late in the day, their neon "OPEN" sign like a beacon of hope on that cold and blustery afternoon.

I knew that in a pinch I could loan my daughter my gloves (she forgot hers!) and we could walk the 2-3 blocks in the freezing February air toward the train station and take a cab home, but the owner of the AAMCO would have none of it. He noted my car would be in the shop for a few days (fine w. me, because I have the fallback of the Rockin' Van) and since my house was on his way home, he'd drop us off.

After further testing (and I trust this shop b/c I have used them before for system flushes for the Taurus) the Sable needs a rebuilt transmission.

Damn!!!!

I was disappointed with the news, but then...I was considering how it is merely an inconvenience, not a tragedy. We are in the fortunate position to be able to pay for the rebuild without worrying about it impacting our food purchases, prescriptions, heating bills or mortgage. Thanks, busted tranny, for making me grateful for the safety nets in my life.