Does Granny Get Hoodwinked?
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My 20 year old grandson asked if auto repair shops take advantage of me because of my age; or in other words, does granny get hookwinked?
I said: “Well, I guess I wouldn’t know.” This seemed to appease him. “And if I don’t know, I guess I won’t worry about it.”
I mean, how many of us know all that car jargon? You need this fixed; you need that fixed; top that off. Blah-blah. It’s meaningless really because it goes right over my head.
Probably So, Son:
So probably so, son. Granny probably does gets hoodwinked much of the time. But my brain can only take in so much knowledge these days. And it doesn’t have room for the ins and outs of how cars work.
This morning I went to have my oil changed. I have to try to remember to do this because I don’t drive very much. And I never ever drive 3000 miles in six months or even a year probably.
But I know you’re supposed to have your oil changed anyway. (Well, I found that out about a year ago when I was 66, so I’m trying to get ‘er done now.)
At Jiffy Lube, the lady in charge (I go there because there’s a lady in charge) asks me if I want something or other done to clean the carbon. I believe it had to do with gasoline.
She tells me there’s one for $29.99 and one for $49.99. And with the $49.99, they hook a hose up and clean the whole thing out. Whatever that “thing” is.
So I consider this for a bit, and heavens, I don’t know. So I tell her do the one for $49.99.
Better safe than sorry, I’m thinking. Or “better to be granny hookwinked” than go home and worry about which one I chose and how much of a difference it might make in the long run.”
Granny Getting Hoodwinked:
I can’t hide my age and I don’t attempt to. I’m proud of my years. I’ve have many, many experiences in my lifetime. And I’ll be happy to stand up in a crowd and say I’m 67 years old.
Make-up really does not hide the years and face-lifts can get wonky. I’m not going to put my face in someone’s hands and say “give ‘er a tuck or two.”
How many little old ladies have you seen with foundation oozing out of their wrinkles? I think it brings attention to their age.
What Can Go Wrong With A Face-lift:
You can have nerve injury and loss of sensation or movement in the face. Asymmetrical facial features – including the position of the earlobe. Hair loss or a small but permanent reduction in hair growth around the scars.
Well, I don’t care about the permanent hair reduction. I’m in (what I’m sure) is a very small minority of old ladies who shave their heads. Surely I’m not alone. But then I don’t know.
Now there’s no making appointments with the hair stylist. Or going once a week to do whatever it is old ladies have done once a week at the hair salon. (What is it, anyway?)
I don’t want to toddle around with blue hair. (Why do they call it blue hair?) So of course I looked it up to find out. I’m nothing if not curious.
Later in the 20th century, mature ladies had a blue rinse to conceal grey hair. The Queen Mother was the trend-setter and the peak of popularity for this fashion was the period following World War II.
My hair, if I let it grow out, is partially gray. I rarely pick up a mirror to look in the back, so I truly wouldn’t know what is going on back there. When I’m shaving my head I look at the back, however. I didn’t want you to think I do this blindly.
Gray hair, brown hair, blond hair. What difference does it really make in the big scheme of things?
Wars are fought, massive accidents occur, there is blight. (I didn’t know what that was either, but it sounded bad; and now I know it has to do with plants).
Wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, drought.
It doesn’t matter. The undertaker will not take note of your hair color when preparing the body for viewing.
Do you know what all they do; those undertakers? Maybe you don’t want to know.
The Embalming Process:
Before the embalming begins, the body is washed in a disinfectant solution. Limbs are massaged to relieve the stiffening of the joints and muscles. Any necessary shaving would also take place at this time. (I’m assuming that’s just for men).
Your loved one’s eyes are closed using glue or plastic eye caps that sit on the eye and hold the eyelid in place. The lower jaw is secured by wires or sewing. Once the jaw is secured the mouth can be manipulated into the desired position.
During the surgical portion of the embalming process, the blood is removed from the body through the veins. And it’s replaced with formaldehyde-based chemicals through the arteries.
And it seems it’s all for the final viewing. My daughters paid $20,000 when their dad died in March.
This will not be happening to moi. Because moi will be cremated, and my remains will be mixed with that of my pets and poured over flowers. Yes, that is my instruction to my daughters in the event of my death. Just pour us all over a flower bed.
What Do You Think?
Dis-moi ce que tu en penses. Or tell me what you think? (I believe I got that right. But then I’m just an old lady who lives alone with a cat and doesn’t know her car’s carburetor from the transmission).
That lady living alone with a cat is getting a lot of play these days.
Whyever would someone say that out loud? Think it if you want. But don’t piss off the ladies with such a remark. Or cats for that matter. (Boy, I’ve been getting a lot of mileage out of that childless ladies with a cat remark, haven’t I?)
Okay, so let’s look at my receipt from Jiffy Lube:
- Signature Service Blend Filter: $59.99
- Medallion Plus Blah-blah: $2.00
- Extended Life Coolant: $4.00
- Fuel Injector Cleaner: $49.99
Well, there you go. That’s what I paid for!
Does Granny Get Hoodwinked At Jiffy Lube:
I’ll tell my grandson that his granny sat at Jiffy Lube looking at her phone perusing Pinterest while she got an oil change. It wouldn’t have mattered if I’d watched them closely because I don’t understand what they’re doing anyway.
I chose between those two carbon choices randomly because I had no idea what I was choosing. When I asked, they told me it had something to do with when you put your foot on the brake and first accelerate. Or that’s what I understood anyway.
If my grandson wants to take care of my car once he finishes college, I’ll gladly let him. Although now he’s considering law school. So it might be awhile.
There’s no telling if granny or her 18 year old car with one fender taped on will still be around or still be capable of driving.
So does granny get hookwinked when it comes to cars? Probably. But maybe what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. (Well, maybe it will hurt her pocketbook. But you can’t take it with you).
C’est la vie.
Hahahaha 😆
😲 OMG Brenda!!!
I’ve been laughing at this post for practically 30 minutes!!! Soooo funny! 😁 You are really a very humorous character, honestly!!
I swear you could get a fabulous job going for yourself writing jokes and whatnot for late TV!!! YOU are a funny gal. Or I should sat funny granny!! 👵
When it came to the discussion re the events that happen when you are 🥺 dead ,,,,, I had to move on to the next subject. Thanks for sharing though!
Your daughter’s must have to deal with your humor on a daily basis. Or, maybe not!! 😂
I sincerely hope you find a fabulous condo, to be safe and enjoy. We all need that comfort in our life.
In the meantime, I know it’s wrong fir me to say this ,,,,, but ,,,,, you should have rescued that precious kitty cat. 🐈
Happy 🙂 condo hunting Brenda!!! 🏠 🏡 🏘
HA HA! Good post and yes, mature women are taken advantage of sometimes. I follow the car manual unless there is a good reason. I had my car for 20 years, the transmission replaced when it was 17 (it went out on the highway so no guesses there), and am most thankful that I found a small family owned auto shop close by. I went in for brake replacement once and they wouldn’t do it because it didn’t need it. But at 20 years, it was getting hard to find some replacement parts. I got a new to me 2020 car this year and what a change!
It’s sad that we have to watch out for everything these days.
Enjoyed the post today, have a great day!
I’m doing the cremation for me too. We did it for both mom & dad. Dad’s ashes went to his military plot in a local cemetery. My brother has mom hanging around until we can get to Kansas to put her in the family plot. Funeral expenses are just crazy expensive.
As a child, I remember watching the blue. & pink tinted hair ladies at church. I was so fascinated . So I was quite surprised when I started turning gray with a cool silver streak and my hair dresser put on a purple rinse! I tried it at home too and it didn’t change the color at all but it made the silver streak stand out! I wish all my gray was silver.
I thought about using the cremated remains of my pets to use as fertilizer. But several internet searches revealed this: “Cremated ashes contain high pH and high sodium (salt). These two aspects make for a harmful and most likely lethal combination to plant growth.” There’s another alternative-Carbon Neutral Funerals. Basically, you’re “composted” after death, then you’re remains are either placed in a biodegradable pot with a tree seed to repopulate a forest, or your composted remains are spread along a river bank to enrich both the greenery and the fishes. That’s what I want, continued life in another form instead of being placed in a vault in a wall.
I appreciate that you don’t want to read about cars but it’s so easy to search caranddriver.com to find out why and how often you should change your oil. You might want to Google Jiffy Lube also to read comments about them.
Our son is a mechanical engineer who rebuilds boat engines as a hobby so if you have motor questions he can probably offer advice.
That’s the least I can offer in return for enjoying your blog for many years!
I can read about them. The knowledge just doesn’t tend to stick. Like a foreign language!
This was a fun post to read. I love your humor. I definitely think old ladies get taken advantage of. Or maybe just ladies in general. In my younger years, I always made sure my husband talked to the mechanic, so we wouldn’t be taken advantage of. I also noticed the dates on your posts were missing. I hope you’ll be able to fix that too. 😊. Has everyone been enjoying the Olympics?
The first thing I thought of when you went to Jiffy Lube was nooo! Please, please – anywhere but Jiffy Lube for an oil change and/or filter. They are known for ripping people off (they’re one of the highest priced places for an oil change) and their shoddy work. Google it! So many horror stories out there. And I can speak from personal experience, too. My son didn’t know how bad this place was and he took his car there for an oil change. They messed up his car so bad, that they almost caused engine failure. I can’t remember exactly what it was they did, but they put the wrong fluids in the wrong receptacle. His car was making awful noises and he took it to our trusted mechanic who said, “Where did you last get your oil changed at?!”
I’m not that much younger than you – 5 years. I still feel pretty young; not like a granny. I’d like to be a granny, but not feel like one! lol Thus said, there are days where I do feel worn out or something hurts. But that’s a fact of aging. I still get my hair colored because I like it that way. I’m glad we have a choice in doing so – or not. I would never get any kind of cosmetic surgery, but again, each to their own.
I will certainly check into this! I’ve been taking my car to Jiffy Lubes for years.
Brenda, I think this is my first comment on one of your posts, but I think today’s post is absolutely awesome! You “keep it real” and I love it! I’ve been following you for years (and years!) and I enjoy every post. Sending you love and hugs!
Sometimes I worry that I might keep it too real!
Hahahaha 😆
Loved this blog today! I would never have any surgery to change my looks. I am very fortunate that my hair is coming in a nice shade of gray. I wouldn’t color my hair to cover the gray because once you start that you have to keep coloring it. If you stop then you really look old. When you let the gray come in gradually people get used to you looking that way and there isn’t that “shock factor “.
I agree with you!
Well, I feel indeed I/we do get taken advantage of…some days an incident of days gone by will remind me…some of that is not age. IF we are people who care about others, we indeed will be taken advantage of…for sure. I do think it is good to let a grandson or son be involved if they can, in some places, like with cars. MOST car places do take advantage of women (I come from a car family…fixed cars for a living…this fact, is one reason both my dad and brother quit working for someone else…they would not lie, and that does not bode well in so many areas these days esp). But if I had to choose in life whether I would rather be a victim, or the one victimizing…would still choose to be the victim. This life is not the end. This life is the very short part that will one day be forgotten. I feel sorry for those who spent this life using others. Cannot think the next life will be what they hope maybe… I do not feel comfortable with being burnt to ash…both of us however hope to be buried quickly and without viewing. We find this viewing of the body very weird. We always have. Refused to view our loved ones who passed. Preferring to remember them as they were in life. And I would feel bad having someone using such dangerous chemicals in order to make the body viewable. We also do not want a service, obituary, or any of the usual. Prefer to be put away quietly and without fanfare. But my hubby and I think differently on many subjects so…we are all different aren’t we?
I too, don’t wish for a service or any kind of fanfare. Pour us on a flower garden and call it good.
I had to laugh at the blue hair you mentioned. I was in beauty school in the early 70’s & so many of the grey haired ladies got the rinse that made the hair blue. Of course we were all in our late teens & laughed every time about the blue hair! So glad they don’t do that anymore.
I always heard of the blue-haired ladies. But I didn’t know exactly what that meant. I figured surely no one wanted their hair blue. But then look these days, every color in the rainbow!
🤣
P.S. By the way, love the new look of your blog, Brenda!
You have the right attitude, Brenda! I have to tell myself every day to “roll with it”! So much we aren’t in charge of and cannot know. I don’t have a car anymore and I hate it, not being able to go where I want, when I want. On the other hand, I don’t have the expense of insurance and up-keep on my small budget and I don’t endanger anybody or myself on the road in case I am not a safe driver anymore! So, there you have it: trade-offs! Hope you week is a good one !
I was getting out to get gas across the street from the Jiffy Lube (got to run all the errands in a row so as not to waste petrol!) and banged the car door against something, think it was a trash can. And I told myself: Now Brenda, in a few weeks you’re going to spend almost $2000 to give this old car a facelift. So you’re going to have to watch more closely what you’re doing!
I know I might not be your target audience being 34 but I’ve been lurking in the shadow of this blog for many months. It feels like my mom giving me life updates and I need that. Thank you
Being from Quebec, Canada, I appreciate the use of french in this post. Made me smile. 🙂
All the love and treats to Ivy.
My grannies’ last names were St.Cyr. So I grew up with that name before I learned my name was Pruitt. And thanks for stopping by; you’re just a baby! Ivy is getting 1-2 treats per day, as the vet said to do.
I love that you’re here at age 34. I can’t believe I turned 80 in April. I don’t feel a day over 34! 😊
great post Brenda. I notice that your posts are no longer dated. Wondering if you could fix that as I love reading your older posts too and the dates give more context to me. Thanks! I enjoy reading your posts every week.
Well I didn’t notice that! Let me look into it. I think I fixed it.
Great post. Brenda your sense of humor is spot on.. I’m 73 & probably get hoodwinked occasionally, but if I’m happy with the results, I don’t mind. Have a great week!!
As long as I’m not aware of it, then I guess I’m none the wiser.
I have a 1999 Volvo. I buy 6 quarts of oil and a oil filter($50) at Walmart.
I pay the man $10 to change my oil. I do this once a year. (I don’t put many miles on my car)
I thought it was okay if you didn’t put many miles on the car. But then I was told by various neighbors that the oil gets old even if it’s just sitting around. So I don’t know!
Brenda, today you were absolutely hilarious….I really enjoyed todays post. Have a wonderful day!
This was more the type of writing I did as a child. Humorous writing to make other children laugh. Only way I could fit in.
That was fun to read, Brenda! You struck a chord with many things. I don’t have any pets right now so I’m just an old lady. LOL
When are you going to get a pet, do you think? Or are you? I nearly adopted a cat the other day before Kasi could get me out of Pet Smart!
I’ve been planning to wait at least a year before I get another pet. Cooper passed in September. I do miss having a companion, but time will tell.
Darn.
Was so hoping you would.
(It’s me again!!)
Love this post … just enough humor about a real situation we all come across … that feeling that maybe we just approved something we really know nothing about and hope for the best.
You feel this little sinking feeling in your chest because you have no idea what you’ve just authorized them to do to your vehicle.
I used to go to Jiffy Lube and I’m sure did the same as you. My mechanic for my quirky old Suzuki has told
me not to go
there any more. He will change the oil for me. Like you I don’t drive it much as I do have another car but it served me well when I had an accident two yrs ago and drove it for 13 months waiting for my case to settle. So yes we must care for them. Now I refer to it as the pet mobile as it’s easier to get my dogs in it.
Ivy has a mobile vet. But I do see what you mean! I like pet mobile!