CT Drivers Licenses (and likely many other states') Need to be Renewed or Pay Penalty, "Happy Birthday' (generally it will be on a birthday, and can be done for 2 or 6 years in CT for instance)

Guess whose due to renew their driver's license/ That'd be me Before my birthday this year, according to the notice I received, Very important to Check the Mail and maybe even keep track of such dates which come around erratically. Easier said than done for some, maybe there's an app made or in the making for That.

Some folks are more computer and organizatonal savvy than others, so another good reason to have a buddy or team of support who assists each member with basic details when it comes to paperwork, health insurance, car insurance or other important timely payments such as car payments, house rental or mortgage payments (that is if one is buying their home and I've heard every now and then people can agree in writing to have a rent-to-own plan). I also appreciate having heard the jist of an owner 'holding the first mortgage' which can allow for more lenient terms than what a bank may offer a purchaser.

But back to cars and renewing licenses (and having other key car papers in order such as The Title of Ownership --or a replacement or equivalent form in some states if the Title is Missing, car taxes paid which is done in the town the car is listed generally speaking and is paid to the town or city (in CT for instance and that needs to be done to renew or get a registration), then there's car insurance (also needed before registering a car and needs to be current even if the car is not being driven in some states, so the license plates need to be turned in to take it off the tax roles.)

None of this is gospel but rather a friendly kitchen table chat about 'basics one may or may not learn in school or along life's business highway. Even if not driving one's car, it can be good to keep insurance current in case one drives someone else's car or maybe even to get a better rate when getting the car back on the road or replacing with one that may be more economical, safer or even an upgrade (dreaming is still free.) The ROI (return on investment) is a term one can keep in mind when trying to decide how much to spend on maintenance and repair of a car, especially a used car.

Likely it costs about a thousand a year for many basics no matter what car one is driving (this is for the knock-around, under a few thousand dollar cars. Likely it could be double or more for nicer cars.) At what mileage or age would it make sense to think about upgrading or replacing with another newer used car? That is a question that I ponder every six months, or have moreso in the past seven years. Somehow it may have cost me more than would be ideal, but I kept a 1998 Subaru Outback going with the help of friends.

One nice fellow whose now in heaven having 'fallen asleep at the wheel' not far from his home, but amidst long hours as a mechanic and fixing up his own cars, had recommended it to me when I asked if he had any leads. That was back in 2009, when my last other more humble Subaru finally went capeesh. She served me well as has my Turtlemobile. I tried to help people with basic transportation and got around to jobs caring for a few other folks along the way, and helping a couple families whose car scene was more challenging than mine. That's even the case now with a mom whose key broke off in the ignition..and that's a Nice Car.

I think I've wondered if that coudl happen, but in any event, there's still a pulse in ol Turtle Subey..and someone in Mass. may be able to restore it enough to run a bit longer. They don't have emissions there for a 1998, which is not great maybe but in the great scheme of things of running a few errands would be a big plus. I don't relish having cars recycled. The one I drove when caring for Tom Drew was one I let sit in my driveway for over a year, maybe two. That was a Buick Century I think, but I am not a whiz at car names and such.

There were lingering questions and likely investigations topping many thousands of dollars, maybe a hundred thousand or more when considering the number of investigations and national coverage of that very difficult and strange turn of events when an elderly man with dementia wandered 'one minute to the next' from his quiet country home. I write about that elsewhere on the blog, but the part involving my car is that I was taking care of him. I asked police to note that my trunk was not functioning that night. They said they were not worried about that. I said I would want to assure people who may not understand otherwise that we looked everywhere possible and that even by mistake he could not have gotten in there (as I had read some kids did once with an old car they were playing in.)

The trunk keyhole did not work. I had it fixed a few months later at North East Muffler and noted that the fellow Joe fixed it (and he was missing a tooth or two in case that would help someone note who fixed it when.) He had to climb in from the back seat. So fast forward to a couple of years after the July 2007 disappearance of Tom Drew. The police searched my trunk not only in my yard, but up at the police barracks in Canaan where they used the special spray that could detect any trace of human DNA (I think that's what it did, or maybe any sign of blood even it it had been cleaned up.)

I had a lot of stuff in  my trunk, as I was apt to be moving, storing things or collecting and giving things away back in those times. So would it be of interest for anyone to have kept that car for others who felt they 'just wanted to see something related to the Tom Derw case'? I only got $150 from the junk yard. I had also had some Canine Rescue Team people, one of whom I knew locally, see that my trunk did not open a few days after the main search.I had gone by to drop off some food and see how people were doing.

The Rescue Team said they continue a search for four days while the Bloodhounds used by State Police only search for two days. There is more to learn about the two different responding teams. People in general would benefit from knowing their Options and How to Call to get their preferred option Before a Search were needed. Maybe terms have changes, but I was informed that if the fire department were called, the Canine Rescue Team (who had better overall success with locating missing people I believe) would be contacted and lead the investigation. If the police were called, the bloodhounds (which were only two in number in the state and took a while to get there, costing about 4 hours in search time I believe.) Even having back up groups of People to help search would likely make sense, and particularly if people are prone to do so anyway.

When our son Kaelan passed in June 2009, in a dangerous river situation, some told me later that they took it upon themselves to look along the fast flowing river and even did so at night, by foot or car, going down unfamiliar dirt roads and feeling distraught but caring. These are the kind of 'take away' lessons more people could help address with alternative helpful responses and even some practice drills, again with safety (and please No Real Weapons or Live Ammo in any scenario) should people be up for that.

Okay well there's likely lots more to let myself think about to spur deeper meaning and a fuller sense of what we could be thinking of in 'our spare time' and collectively. We need to share the road and the load of life. When someone has dementia, they may still be driving. Giving up one's car even while aging is not an easy transition to try even for a few weeks (say on vacation.) But more people likely should plan to be Able to do all that and not take risks to do errands and feel no one else can help. We can be there for one another and honor those who are no longer on earth with us in the physical realm by taking care to do just that.