Few experiences are as intimidating to me as walking into an auto parts store to buy a new part for my car. I have exactly what I want rehearsed - like a foriegner in a strange land asking "Where's the bathroom?" Sure, I get the request out, but inevitably, the answer is gibirish.
What's worse, any question I ask could be the question that deomstrates my complete and utter ignorance.
"I need rear brakes for a 98 chevy cavalier, please."
The response: "which size do you wan, BS636R or BS553R? Do you need brake part cleaner? How about brake fluid?"
All I can say is, I have no idea, and please help. And heaven forbid they mention the upcoming football game this weekend in small talk - again, I would be clueless. I can imagine what the clerk is thinking: "he looks so much like a dude, but could he really be a chick?"
Today's experience went well. The guy who helped me basically said I could buy all this stuff and return what I don't need.
The final fear of course is the wonder I have in whether I even bought the correct parts. Where I need to go back and try again.
So why bother? Simple, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Besides, I'm a computer programmer, I live for understanding complex systems.
--Ben
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