My car’s air conditioning had gone out. Yes, gone out in this miserable and all-encompassing heat. But I had received it back from the mechanic and had been assured all was well after spending close to $1,000.00 on a new compressor and accumulator (whatever that is). So as I took off to do my errands the next day I fully expected cold, refreshing, frigid air to be copiously blowing forth from my brand new air conditioner…but, no, it did not. It was doing what it had done when I took it in…switching on and off, willy-nilly. Right now it was blowing HOT! Returning home, I called the mechanic and reported my sorrowful predicament as sweat slowly trickled down my neck. It’s going back in next week…CURSES!
heat wave shimmers a
mirage—cool, undulating
ripples form a swell
* As a side note, my car went back to the mechanic last week where they replaced another part (only charged me for the part, no labor) and although the car cooled on the way home, it stopped again and has started going on and off again. Argh! Back it goes later this week. The mechanic couldn’t believe it and wants to keep the car and drive it for a couple of days so he can see what it’s doing. Really bad timing!
Toni is our host for Haibun Monday. See her presentation at dVerse for all the details and join us for one of our most popular prompts.
Bodhirose's Blog 
Victoria C. Slotto
/ July 25, 2016I had a hard time clicking “Like” on this–what a miserable predicament. My husband’s car does the same thing which is not pleasant when we are in Palm Desert. Those mirages–so well described in your haiku. Good luck with the car, Gayle.
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016I dropped it off yesterday. I really hope they can figure out what the problem is!
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kanzensakura
/ July 25, 2016Wow. This is hard. I keep my fingers crossed for my 10 year old corolla. Bless your heart. I hope they figure it out. And doing short walks with Mira early of late. The heat is so hard on the old and little ones.
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016We’ll see how it goes. Mira doesn’t like to go out for walks in this heat and I don’t blame her one bit…so we stay in and play. 🙂
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kanzensakura
/ July 28, 2016Staying in and playing is always a fun thing!
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Victoria Young
/ July 25, 2016When I was a kid, whenever we would get our AC fixed, it never worked for very long. I don’t why that was – mechanical skills not my strength. Hopefully, things are better now and they’ll figure it out – really need AC right now. Really enjoyed your haibun
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016I really do need my AC…no question about that! Thanks for coming by, Victoria.
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Grace
/ July 25, 2016Yikes for the AC not working and car having problems. I hate it most when the AC breaks down and you are fanning hot air. Hope the cool mirage helps. Great to see you Gayle.
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016A real bummer. It’s back at the mechanic so hoping they can figure out the problem. Nice to see you as always, Grace. 🙂
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Charley
/ July 25, 2016New car or new mechanic! Loved your haibun… it’s not always the AC, but the frustration is universal. And your frustration is palpable.
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016I would love a new car but that may have to wait. I don’t “do” sweat very well! 🙂
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Charley
/ July 27, 2016Nobody does sweat well. I know what it feels like to have to wait for a new car. My beast has earned the nickname, “The Antichrist.” (from the movie, The Gods Must Be Crazy)
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jillys2016
/ July 25, 2016Crud! Of course it goes out in July! I love the haiku and the image of the heat waves – it matches your frustration in the prose. Well done!
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016Of course it does! Thanks, Jilly.
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katiemiafrederick
/ July 26, 2016SMiLes.. i never had an air conditioner
in a car until i was 26 years old..
didn’t have a heater either..
nor central air or heating…
But my Father
did where he lived..
Uptown on the East side..
200 miles away..
He took
the
AC when he
left when i was three..
Hmm.. and we didn’t
have a TV until i was 7 years
old.. considering i didn’t speak
until i was four years old.. if i had
a TV.. i might have never learned
until much older still.. use it or lose
it.. heat
or cold..
speak or mute..:)
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016I didn’t grow up with air conditioning but we did have it in our cars. Sorry about your Dad taking the AC with him… 😦
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katiemiafrederick
/ July 27, 2016Winks..
My frIend..
He left
The Love that
StiLL is mY
Mother
And
NoW i2..
A gift..
He
Left..
Love..:)
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kim881
/ July 26, 2016I hope it’s fixed soon, Gayle. My VW Beetle, which I’ve had five years now, is the first car I’ve ever owned with air conditioning and I don’t have to use it much, seeing as I live in a usually chilly, damp place! But last weekend when we visited my mum, it really came into its own. Your haiku reminds me of the one and only time I visited the US, September in New York was very hot for me and the first time I saw heat really shimmering.
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016Thanks, Kim. I hope the mechanic has good news this time! That heat shimmer is a common sight here in Florida. We may have “invented” it! 🙂
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Sumana Roy
/ July 26, 2016the mirage image really works…
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016Thanks much, Sumana!
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lillian
/ July 26, 2016Argh indeed!!! Good luck – hope it gets fixed!
Yep — those heat shimmers can indeed be a mirage — like the mechanic’s words “it’s fixed” — not!
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016Thanks, Lillian! I need all the luck I can get.
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Renee Espriu
/ July 26, 2016Hope you and your car are on better terms? Cars can be such a quandary sometimes. I sent you a much too long email to catch up. 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016Still waiting to hear back, Renee. I sent you an equally too long email. 🙂
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Arcadia Maria
/ July 26, 2016Air conditioning always act up when its needed the most.
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016I’m sure that’s true!
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kaykuala (@hankkaykuala)
/ July 27, 2016As if the heat outside was not bad enough! Sometimes things go wrong all at the same time. Perhaps one way of testing one’s resolve!
Hank
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Bodhirose
/ July 27, 2016My resolve will keep trying until the mechanic says there’s no more hope. 🙂 Thanks, Hank!
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freyathewriter
/ July 27, 2016How frustrating! I hope you get it fixed soon!
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Bodhirose
/ July 28, 2016Me too, Freya…thanks!
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Misky
/ July 28, 2016How odd — the A/C on my car decided not to work a few weeks ago, and the repair shop can’t figure it out either. I certainly don’t have thousands to invest in fixing it either! I’ll just open the windows for the few days that the temperatures rise. 🙂 Hope they get it all sorted for you.
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Bodhirose
/ July 28, 2016It’s hard to be without AC when the heat index is running at 105 F…they have to fix it! 🙂 Thanks, Misky.
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brian miller
/ July 28, 2016its so frustrating when they can not fix it, and when they have it, it is not doing the same thing it does when we have it. you start to think they think you are crazy. ha. and in this heat, no air is oppressive.
its funny, having no AC the whole time i was away, you get used to it and dont think about it, but being home, i def do.
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Bodhirose
/ July 28, 2016The heat is very oppressive here, Brian…and yes, you do wonder if they think you’re whacko! 🙂 But my mechanic wanted to drive the car for a couple of days so he could see what it was doing. I hope it did it for him!
I think I could get accustomed to it if the humidity was lower but our humidity runs so high that you feel like you’re in a sauna out there. No fun…
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Lorna's Voice
/ July 28, 2016Seems as if the “accumulator” is the mechanic’s bank account! Good luck on cooling your ride down. Until then, stay put! 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ July 28, 2016The word from the mechanic today is that it was my cooling fan that kept going on and off. He didn’t charge me anything to fix it but he said, “I hate your car.!” Lol!
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Lorna's Voice
/ July 29, 2016Wow! That’s something you don’t hear often from the mechanic!
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Bodhirose
/ July 29, 2016He chuckled as he said it but my car had been there for three visits and he couldn’t figure out what the trouble was…until he did. It was the cooling fan. And how many times do you hear your mechanic say, “No charge.” He replaced the fan and didn’t charge me a penny. I got the car back this afternoon…cool as a cucumber! 😉
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Lorna's Voice
/ August 2, 2016That’s a mechanic who is a real keeper! 🙂 Glad you have a cool car!
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Bodhirose
/ August 2, 2016You won’t believe this but I had to call the mechanic again, same problem! I was afraid to call him back but he said to bring it back in and he would check out the compressor…doesn’t appear to be switching on. Oy! 🙂
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Lorna's Voice
/ August 4, 2016People in your town are going to start talking about the two of you! 😉 ❤
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Bodhirose
/ August 4, 2016Haha…I hadn’t thought of that! It’s getting to be ridiculous though…
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Lorna's Voice
/ August 4, 2016😉
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