You know house guests are coming when you finally, finally head to Home Despot to get a new toilet seat via prepay and pick up.

My phone is old and the battery’s on its way out. I know that other people just wave their magic wands, but…

The clerk at Pickup looked about 20.

I’m old, I told her with a grin as I handed her the paper, I printed it out.

She laughed.

And the car? The mechanic got me in at 10:00, checked the code, reset it, and sent me on my way no charge after saying that the check engine light on the Prius is an emissions monitor only: if it comes on and stays on, keep driving. (I’d already told him I’d unscrewed the gas cap, screwed it back on, and clicked it three times like Dorothy’s ruby red slippers so he knew he didn’t have to tell me that part. Thank you to DebbieR’s husband for what to try.)

If it comes on and flickers, he said, get the car in here.

And that is why we’re now the proud owners of a new slow-close no-slam no-slip etc etc. Are we excited yet.

Tomorrow, though, for that I can’t wait!