Her Red Mouse (think "scurry")

Tomorrow will find her taking her car, the Red Mouse, in for more maintenance that is required on its suspension. 

She readily admits she has a love/hate relationship with her automobile which - when the hate side is on the ascendant (like tomorrow when she pulls out her credit card, yet again) - sometimes makes her wonder if she did the right thing buying it in the first place. 

Granted it was a "sweet deal" brought to her attention by someone she trusted but, not ever having been a car person in her entire life, she had no idea that:  a.  she would have such a blast driving it, and, b.  it would cost her so much to maintain properly.  Grrrrrrr .... her little Red Mouse definitely has her caught between the proverbial "rock and a hard place".

And, of course, there is the rising cost of fuel causing her to reel (and fret) just that much more.  A while ago she considered selling her Red Mouse - and buying something cheaper to repair and more fuel efficient - but she knows her car has been well maintained and that it's reliable.  In fact her original plan was to keep it on the road for at least 10 years and it is more than possible for her to do this ("god willin' and the creek don't rise).

With her original plan in mind she had to take herself firmly in hand after her last trip to the garage (when the first of the series of three sessions of suspension repairs took place) and tell herself to have more guts in the situation she finds herself in.

She told herself that if she is going to keep her car then she needs to focus on the enjoyment it gives her and to trust herself to be able to work hard enough, and be resourceful enough, to be able to afford whatever it takes to keep the Red Mouse on the road for as long as she wishes.

She emphasized to herself that she must no longer give any indication whatsoever to her mechanic that she is crushed by any adverse reports he has to give her.  From now on she must buck up and carry on as if she can, and will always be able to, afford to properly maintain her automobile.

Yes, it is a bit of a "fake it til you make it" strategy.  But, sometimes you have to live up to your outer trappings and let them inspire you to do your best.