Life— most of us have experienced moments when it’s moving slow and nothing’s happening. Then, as if the universe just took a big hit of [fill in your choice of stimulant] and everything’s a rush panic. All the deadlines for everything are the same week. Nothing can be stalled or rescheduled.

 

After a long, slow waiting period, our life is happening at triple speed.

 

30 years ago, I moved from Toronto, Ontario, to central Ohio. I needed time and space away from my community, decimated by what would become known as HIV/AIDS, so I moved to Mom’s homeland. I knew then I’d return to the land of my birth at some far, far future date.

 

Fast forward to this decade. Time to move back— but the process of bringing my American husband and our feline overlord is neither fast nor furious. There’s lots and lots of ‘administrivia’— forms, documents, fees, questions and answers and lots of wait times.

 

Suddenly the approval arrives and magically, husband’s employer has a position open in Toronto. City of my birth, the place we both most want to live, one of the 2 most expensive cities in Canada. They offer the position and want him to start as soon as possible. Actually, they want him sooner than that.

 

That’s why I’m here now.

 

We can manage, with friends and family, so many of the details and processes to make this happen. Most. But the process to import our current auto to Canada is the sticking point.

 

We have to officially export it from the USA, then import it, have it inspected, and upgraded to current Canadian standards before we can get it licensed and insured. We could swing these things, but in order to do so, we need to pay off the loan. No company is going to allow their loan security to permanently leave the USA.

 

And we can’t sell it for the current balance due, which is pretty standard for the first few years of a car loan. See below for the story of Gray Gonzo- our previous car, which we expected to have paid off (and still have) when we moved.

 

So, we are turning to you for some community-based support.

 

How You Can Help- GoFundMe

 

We have established a Go Fund Me campaign. Donations appreciated, as are shares, prayers and spellwork.

 

To pay off the loan and keep the car, we need about US$10,400. Then we could manage exporting, importing, upgrades, and registration expenses.

 

We owe more than the resale value, but if we raise around US$3,000 we’ll the car and pay off the loan- which would leave us without a car, but without added debt.

 

How You Can Help- Merch

 

For folks who’d like something tangible I’ve created a collection of Fundraising t-shirts, available for a limited time only, at this Print On Demand production partner site. Of course, sales of items from any of my various Production Partners will help.

 

 

The Life and Death of Gray Gonzo

PART I
In 2013 our very old car was replaced by a 2012 red Kia Forte 5 door. I picked it over the Kia Soul (my dream car) only because the Forte’s lower hatchback/sedan style meant the storage space was longer, and that was better for carrying my portable photography studio. A studio that’s no longer operational.

 

Forte was parked on the tree-lined street out front one hot June ’22 evening. Someone roaring up the street just before midnight in an allegedly-stolen vehicle caught the rear left corner of my car with their right bumper, pushing Forte into the parked car in front, which was pushed into the parked car in front, which was pushed into the parked car in front, which was pushed into the parked car in front.

 

Yes, a 6 vehicle pile-up. Only the last one in the sequence was unharmed. Forte was totaled; the others had varying degrees of damage.

 

PART II
Forte was replaced with a 2020 Kia Soul (bought used). The car I’d wanted all along.

 

Since the death of Forte I’ve always parked our car in the parking spot out back; no matter how hot. In April 2023 Gray Gonzo was vandalized and stolen. After a short joy ride it was abandoned, then recovered less than 24 hours later.

 

Repaired and Upgraded, someone (perhaps the same one, perhaps not) attempted to take it away in August 2023.

 

It had the software upgrade installed while in the shop, so all they did was break a window and bugger up the steering column. Perhaps the warning sticker should’ve been placed in the rear windows rather than the front? Repaired again- another Insurance Deductible and disruption in routine.

 

PART III
Although there’s been no official verdict, it’s my belief that the drive-by which ended the life of Great Gray Gonzo (Feb.15, 2024) was aimed at whoever moved in to the unit beside us just a few weeks prior. That tenant was gone before the Sun rose; even before police left the scene.

 

The video from our security camera shows the bulk of the bullets were clearly aimed at their unit; We did get one in a basement window along with the half-dozen in our car. Gonzo’s engine block was severely hit, with a few bullets landing in the ceiling fabric. Another Insurance Deductible and then dropped by that company at the end of the term. Acquired our second used Kia Soul, and a new Insurance provider.

 

These events and others are covered in this post at my personal blog.