In 2000, I became very ill and permanently disabled. I lost just about everything, including my life. I lived from place to place with kind people. Then my car died. I learned the Lynx system for 1 1/2 years, often taking a bus 2 hours to and back from temp jobs which could only last a few days because of my illness. I climbed into dumpsters (before my car died) and drove from Casselberry to DeBary(?)to trade for money for food. No real income to speak of, no car, no place to live. I finally got diagnosed and now am living in a Habitat House, on SSDI with a 13 year old car. I am far more fortunate than many people. My income, although limited and fixed, gets me through. My daughter will be moving to Atlanta from Orlando soon. She will probably marry the nicest man she's known who lives up there. My son ives in CA. I hardly see him and always miss him. I have been so happy to have her near me. I am so afraid of how much I will miss her. I can't count on my car to even make it 1/2 way to Atlanta. I'm sorry, I'm already crying and all I'm doing is writing about it. My parents are elderly, live nearby and are also just making it on Social Security. My dad has Alzheimer's but it is early so we're ok for now. In all likeliehood, my mother will be left with their current car. I run a support group for people with my illness and have been doing so for 6 1/2 years. We now have the largest, most active support group in probably all of Central FL allowing people many and various (including web) opportunities to participate. So, because I can't work, because I went through experiences I can't even think about, I do what I can day in/day out, available 24/7 to our members, now over 125. I do not like to say me, me, me because a group is never just one person. I have been told that my group has saved lives - people dying by their own hand. That's what matters to me. A car for me - yeah, great - the more meetings I can facilitate, the more people I can help. My mom has sacrificed all her life for others including, believe it or not, running a support group at her church. :)Knowing she has reliable transportation will give me great piece of mind. Thanks for listening.

I can relate to Beth P. I was laid off and my car has 126,000 miles and counting. I have never had a brand new car, it would be great!