Three Beautiful Things 09-15-2025: I Solve a Minor Camry Problem, Food in the House Again, Nighttime with Copper

1. As I age, I am less and less aware of my strengths and increasingly aware of my weaknesses, of my manifold shortcomings. 

Among my shortcomings, a lifelong one in fact, is not having much aptitude for understanding mechanical things, like, say, motor vehicles. 

With that in mind, I have a tale to tell.

A while back, in Coeur d'Alene, I was in the left lane, needed to move into the right, checked my mirror, didn't see anyone, put on my blinker, started over, and another driver politely honked. I got back in my lane. No harm done. (No road rage either -- it was a cordial interaction.)

Later, I wondered why that light on my side view mirror hadn't alerted me that a car was in my blind spot. 

Sunday, my trip to Spokane afforded me several opportunities to confirm that the side view mirror lights weren't working in either mirror. 

So, today, I did what I always do when confronted with a motor vehicle problem. 

I panicked. 

I had daymares about cost.

I went online and read somewhere that if the Blind Spot Monitoring System craps out it can cost as much as $2,000.00 dollars to replace. 

Then I thought, "Ah, come on. Really?" I hadn't had any of things happen that I read can put this BSM system out of commission.

Then, for no good reason at all, my head miraculously cleared. 

I wondered -- is there an off/on switch for this system? Is it possible that some Camry gremlin snuck into the electronics of this car and switched off the Blind Spot Monitoring System?

A quick online search confirmed that indeed the system does have an off/on switch and the description of how to get to it made, get this!, perfect sense to me. 

So, I had an order to pick up at Beach Bum Bakery. 

I backed the Camry out of the garage, punched up the menu that has the BSM on/off switch and lo and behold, the system was off! 

I put it back on. 

I picked up my order. 

I drove on the freeway to Smelterville where I figured a car or two might pass me. 

They did. 

And as they approached from behind and came up alongside me, the light on the mirror flashed on. 

I figured out how to solve a vehicle problem. 

I rode the high of this accomplishment for the rest of the day! 

2. On Sunday, after enjoying so much visiting with Deborah and Scott and after eating that towering burger at Nosworthy's, I decided not to go grocery shopping as I had originally planned.

I just wanted to get home, check on Copper and Gibbs, and possibly take a nap (which I did).

Later in the evening, I went online and made an order at Walmart, picked it up this morning shortly before eight o'clock, and returned home relieved that the pantry and fridge were pretty well stocked. 

3. Copper still doesn't climb onto my chest and if he presses himself against me, it's when I'm lying on my back and he snuggles up to my legs. 

Recently, however, he has been vocal during the night into the early morning. He wakes me up and I quietly, almost whispering, mumble something like, "What is it Copper?" 

He doesn't exactly answer me, but he puts his face right in mine, close enough that I can smell the Friskies on his breath. 

I pet him.

He relaxes and assumes a prone position. 

I rest my hand on his midsection, either his back or his belly. 

He purrs. 

He quiets down. 

We both go back to sleep.