Ark Valley News - Invest in the Nest

Invest in the Nest
Last Updated: June 23, 2022

Fuel pump jumpstarts summer

How's your summer going?

Ours started off with a bang to the ol' checkbook.

As we know, travelling with children is super fun, especially for six and a half hours. No fights. No arguments, just great conversation all around.

Our first trip: Arkansas.

We were getting oh-so-close to our destination when my car suddenly stopped accelerating. If you have ever driven in the Arkansas hills, you know that acceleration is a key component to driving around those parts. In the town of Mountain Home, Arkansas, population more than 12,400, we found everything we needed … if only you needed everything on a Monday. It was Saturday. Shops were closed and we were stuck.

No need to panic. I called my dad who was visiting as well.

Visualize little to no cell phone service.

After many failed call attempts and Facebook messages, we had a plan and I was on the road to a nearby park to let the kids run free. Luckily, my car was drivable, just very, very slow.

Then my car wouldn't start.

I called the Mountain Home Police Department begging them to not tow my car. My wordsmith skills came in handy. It was still there the next day.

Monday rolled around and we found out I needed a new fuel pump. Perfect! Get that bad boy ordered and get me on the road. In the meantime, my dad met my husband mid-way in Kansas to exchange the kids and my husband had a blow out on the way there. It just keeps getting better.

Tuesday arrived and my car was still not repaired. Faulty pump equals mad car owner. Another fuel pump was ordered and I was less than hopeful about my return trip home.

Wednesday was finally here. My car was repaired! I was so happy to return to my family; yet, so thankful I had my Arkansas family to help me.

I made it a couple hours down the road and what do you think happened? You guessed it. My car wouldn't start.

After scaling the parking lot for a kind person to help a frazzled female, I found a guy who had already helped a lady change her tire that day! He rescued me and told me where I needed to go to see about a new battery. Yep. Now we have battery issues.

Once again, I got my car fixed, and got back on the road. I had plenty of time to listen and complete my chosen audiobook "The Forest of Vanishing Stars." The title is symbolic, I'd say. I felt like I was in the forest and these vanishing lights of hope of getting my car fixed kept creeping away from me.

I made it home two days late and hundreds of dollars less. My dad also experienced a blow out a week later. End of car issues.

Although an expensive trip, we will still return to Arkansas. It's a special place to my family.

My car and I are on speaking terms now. I may not have said some very nice things to her, but I know I did thank my family for all their help.

After foregoing a Birk Go Fund Me page, I decided to just enjoy the beauty of my expensive Buick. Take a look yourself sometime as you drive by The Ark Valley News.

Erika Birk is a mother of two and works part-time at The Ark Valley News. Reach her at legals@arkvalleynews.com.