Ooops, I Did it Again. Yup. Again.

Friends... I am in the final lap to having my life back on track, but oh, what a lap it has been!! So many yellow and red flags, and that checkered flag is in sight.

But I need help. I have borrowed from my parents to the point of causing issues. They love and support me, but are headed into unsure years, with a political climate that could affect their savings, and their golden years. I cannot ask for one dime more.

Friends have come through with gifts and loans over the past nine months. I have begun to pay those back... a bit prematurely. Oh, to have seen this coming!

I have an incredible job with a salary that shadows any before, but I don't get that first paycheck until mid-August. It's a consultant thing, apparently.

And of course, in true Kristin style, I've hit one huge hiccup that is stressing me out beyond measure. I've been struggling to deal with it, and its many facets, over the last month. And I'm finally making headway. But it is turning into, yet another, financial nightmare.

I am asking... nay, begging... for one last shot of help. A gift, a loan, strings attached, a scolding included, insults, jokes... I don't care. I need help.

Some transparency - If you didn't already know, I'm a total loser and I mess up pretty much everything I attempt these days. If it has anything to do with my car, it's a guarantee.

Two years ago, I was in a fender bender. Officially my fault, but the old biddy was playing road rage games and I absolutely didn't swipe her on purpose. My car took the brunt. Insurance dealt with her, and I moved on.

Well... turns out that while I was sending Geico monthly payments, my policy had been canceled. Cute trick. It was the pandemic and I needed to register my new (now damaged) car. There was a months-long waiting list for an in-person DMV appointment in Virginia. I had an appointment on the books... in four months. No notice. No nothing. Geico canceled my insurance because my car wasn't registered.

I had no clue.

As a result, also without my knowledge, my license was suspended.

I was gloriously clueless, moving halfway across the country and taking a few road trips here and there.

For two years.

Then I made the mistake of driving in Carmel, Indiana.

The week before my new job started, I was pulled over because I made a left turn, late at night, no traffic, and turned into the lane next to the one I was in line for. Seriously.

And there, a very nice cop ran my info and filled me in on my many transgressions.

I think these baby blues have never been so wide in my life. It was clear I had no idea I'd been driving around like that. He took no pity and towed my car.

You may remember my plea for a lift to Chicago. That was because I couldn't get my car out of towing without a valid license. But I couldn't get a license without insurance. But i couldn't get insurance without a license. It's a cute trick. Chicken? Egg? Screw you.

It has taken me a month of stress and communicating with multitudes of strangers, which causes me an abnormal amount of stress. But I finally have (crappy) insurance. And tomorrow, I will (please gawd) be able to renew my license.

But I owe. Oh, I owe.

The car has been sitting in the tow lot. Incredibly kind people run it, but they charge per day. I've racked up $1575... so far. I can't get it out until I have all my ducks in a row (see below) and the freaking Carmel police release it. The cop assured me that they look kindly on people who've worked to get those freaking ducks in a row. Hope springs eternal.

I also have a court date, which could stretch out my poor Lucifer's time in lockup. Working on that, too.

Insurance ran me $500 today. That was all I had. Literally have $24 to pay bills, eat, pay rent... you know, live, until mid-August.

If all this had happened next month, it still would have sucked, but I would have been able to cover it. Yay new job!

I have been so tight with the money that was loaned and gifted to me earlier this year. I've eaten PB&J and not done anything extra at all. But I have had to uber to my new job and it has sucked me dry.

If you can find it in your heart to help, maybe again, please do. Absolutely communicate with me and let me know if it should be paid back. It WILL be paid back. It might take a minute, but it will. I'm more terrified of welching on a loan to one of you than I am of losing my car forever.

I will have to pay the %#%$ Virginia DMV almost $1500. What a crock. But you know they have it locked down. I can't get my Illinois things taken care of until they are right in Virginia.

That's $3575 to get me to $0.

I am embarrassed.

I am mortified.

I am beaten.

I am humbled.

I am as low as I've been for years.

I am dark blue.

I am weary.

I am asking for help.

I am hopeful.

I am able to see the light.

I am loved.

I am grateful.

I am going to make it.

I'm still smiling.