Mark's Wheels Fund

I took this picture from my car about 15 minutes before the car died for good. I was trying to get a picture of many ducks walking through my sister's apartment complex. I was too slow and only got about 1.45 of the eight or so ducks present on camera.

But enough about my failed career as a photographer. Let's discuss how my year or three... or four... of health issues (including, but not limited to the famous (in my own mind) toe-removal of April, 2017, the joys that come with anxiety and depression, and my spot in the Blood Clotters' Hall of Fame) has put me in a position where there is NO wiggle room in my budget for another vehicle.

None.

So here I am, trying to find souls willing to contribute to a fund for me to get a car. I've found a 2005 Buick LeSabre Limited for a good price (according to Kelley Blue Book, anyway) at a reputable dealer recommended by trustworthy friends. It's got issues with the paint, which is about as low down on my "car concerns" list anything can get... but that helps with the price. The amount I'm looking for includes the price of the car and the money I will need to get the car licensed.

I'm trying to get this as soon as possible, as the school year is starting here shortly. Within a week would be awesome.

With missing so much school last year as a result of the surgery (I missed about twenty days after the surgery that were days without pay--as I'd used up my 10 allotted days prior to the surgery) my paychecks have been about 78% of the net income it had been prior to my hospital visit. This change has wreaked havoc with my budget. I was making it through the summer with a "do nothing now that can be put off until mid-August" plan that would hopefully get me back to regular paychecks without too much sturm und drang (beyond what not going to the doctor for a few months gets you, anyway).

My car had other plans.

If this campaign is successful, I can take one huge and unexpected stressor off my heaped-up stress plate. Not only do I need a vehicle to get to and from work, but to and from doctor appointments for both myself and my younger brother, as well as doing simple things like getting groceries and other necessities.

I'm not thrilled to be in this situation, and less thrilled to take this step in asking for help--but if it means I can take this anxiety level down several notches, I'm going to try. If it hurts something to try, it's news to me.

I don't have words for how grateful I would be for any help anyone can give. I mean, I do have words for gratitude, because "Thank you" are pretty standard words. I just don't know that I'd have words to do my gratitude justice. But you probably knew that, and now I'm rambling. Again.

I promise to use this vehicle for good, such as taking Hads to the water park on days when I really would rather stay in the air conditioning and taking Dane to his doctor appointments (as well as his every-100-days haircut), in addition to the uses that serve my own self-interest... or self-preservation.