I have had a bad week.

First one of my dogs decided to swallow two rocks which blocked his
intestine. It was a death or surgery decision. $820 later the dog is
recovering (death would have been $60 or waiting).

On Wednesday I lost a court case where a guy overcharged me on a repair the
exhaust system on my 87 Syncro. It cost me about 40% more than what VW would
have charged. When I expressed my concerns he turned abusive and violent and
took me to small claims court. In court it was truth versus dishonesty and
violence. The latter won the case. Violence was vindicated (counterclaim
dismissed for lack of evidence, actually I believe the judge wanted to go to
lunch). A difficult moral pill for me to swallow, plus another $1600. I feel
like I failed the cause for non-violence. As a lawyer said to me later: the
judicial system is not about justice.

Last night I answered a fire alarm (as a volunteer fire fighter). It was at
that time of deep sleep in the night when you wake up and you don't know
what time it is and where you are for a moment. I dressed, jumped into my
car, backed up and forgot that I had the trailer hooked up. I heard it when
the trailer jackknifed and hit the car. I bent the left rear panel of my
Vanagon out of shape. Probably another $800 or so. 

I am not sure that it is over. My kids' computer just started acting up. In
my mind I see the next couple of 100$ disappearing.

Please Vanagonians let me know from your experience that things will be okay
again, that maybe justice exists somewhere, that I don't have to be as hard
on myself as I am right now.

Bj�rn

Bj�rn Ratjen

1987 Syncro Est Alia (self camperized)
1995 Passat TD
(1982 Vanagon Diesel)
1979 VW Bus (self- camperized)