A bump in the road

Yesterday, I had a fabulous time getting La Vanne in order so I could leave for Arizona today.

I bought stuff and reorganized stuff and traipsed up and down the stairs to and from the apartment a thousand times. By night, I was happily wiped out and almost done. It seemed too good to be true.

‘I can leave in the morning and get there by noon!’

That would leave plenty of time to find a good camping spot and settle in, maybe even socialize a bit with my new camp mates. I imagined sitting around the campfire after dark, listening to road stories from grizzled veterans. It sounded like heaven.

And then I remembered The Papers.

Photo credit veggiefrog

You know, the ones I’d signed when I bought the van? They were in a folder. Where is the folder?! Could not find it anywhere. Up and down the stairs I went, again and again, tearing apart all the work I did.

Nada. Zilch. I must have thrown them out with all the other papers I dumped a few weeks ago. Gah!

Do I need them? I don’t know. Was the title in there among all the loan papers, or do I only get that when the loan is paid off? I don’t know. All I have is a small piece of paper taped to the windshield that, the car dealer told me as he handed me the keys, keeps the van legal until the tags and registration paper come in the mail (and which my son will forward to me in Quartzsite). Is it a good idea to cross state borders with just that little piece of paper? Again, I don’t know.

So, I gave up and went down to the van to try to get some rest while waiting for morning and various offices (DMV, bank, used car dealer) to open. I’m not sure which is the best one to call, but I’m going to start with the dealer. Maybe it’s just a matter of him copying the papers for me and I can pick them up on my way out of town.

I hope so.

But, to be honest, even if it’s that simple, I’m too tired to leave today. I’m going to get over this speed bump, tie up the last loose ends, get a good night’s sleep, and leave in the morning. I hope.

[Update: Woohoo! Just called the dealer and he said he’d call his bookkeeper and copy the papers for me. Turns out that’s all I need. PHEW!]