Hey, it’s Donovan — and welcome back to another episode of Call Me Donovan! Today marks 761 days alcohol-free, and I’m reflecting on what it means to get older — not just for us as people, but for the stuff we rely on every day. Namely: our aging vehicles. In this episode, I dive into the increasingly expensive (and frustrating) world of maintaining older cars. I tell the story of our 2003 Ford Explorer, which still has under 78,000 miles but has racked up thousands in repair costs over the past two years — including a full transmission rebuild. I also share the ups and (mostly) downs of my 2013 Ford Focus and its infamously glitchy “automatic-manual” transmission. Oh, and let’s not forget my son’s bright yellow ‘03 Ford Ranger — we call it the “submarine.” If you’ve ever stared down a $3,000 repair bill and wondered if it’s time to give up and buy new, you’ll feel this one. Also, I touch briefly on this brutal heat dome sitting over the South and share a few thoughts on climate change — yeah, it’s real, and I’m not sugar-coating it. Finally, I wrap with some Fourth of July safety reminders (especially for the pets!) and a little personal perspective on life as a middle-aged, long-married atheist dad living in the heart of the Bible Belt. It’s another slice-of-life monologue from yours truly. Thanks for listening.
—Donovan
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