Putting it all in perspective - or - dead rat by the sidewalk

My car had been doing weird things. Idling really rough, stalling, oil light coming on and off intermittently, and then the dreaded check engine light.
I was about to take it to the BMW dealership, and my new boss said no! Take it next door to Big O - it will cost less and they're really good. I am aware the dealership really does sort of puff things up, and so I took my boss up on his suggestion. It took almost 2 days, but I got the car back and it runs like a new car! I'm so happy, even though it still cost me just over a grand.
Here's the deal. This car has been wonderful. This is the first really major thing to happen to it, and she's just about to hit 100,000 miles, an unheard of number for me. I usually get rid of them before that, but times such as they are, and the fact that it is such a wonderful car, which is paid for, well, what could I do.
The problem, I was told, was the PCV valve (positive crankcase ventilation aka oil separator). The mechanic said this is common in BMW's with substantial miles. It was totally clogged which also mucked up a bunch of valve covers. To get to this rascal, they had to practically tear the car apart (it's under the intake manifold). I went over several times, and at one point I could barely look - all I could think was, do they know where everything goes back? Anyway, all is well with the car now.
Yesterday the Big O folks gave me a ride home. But this morning I had to take the bus. Thank God I left early. After one transfer, I was dumped off by Safeco Field, and had to walk I bet a mile to work. It was cold, and early, and I had on wedgies.
So, off I go. Not the greatest stretch of road in the morning. First I see a dead rat in the dirt by the sidewalk. I stopped to mourn him. What a bummer to be a rat, and dead I thought. So, I go a little further and I notice something under an off-ramp. As I got closer, I realized it was a homeless person. He or she was sleeping, and I had to do a double take at how compact and organized his/her space was. But it made me sad. I wasn't afraid of any of this, just aware.
So, I'm a thousand bucks poorer. Big deal. I have a car and I'm not sleeping in it. Sure, I've had my challenges the last oh, 10 years, but I am blessed. I know this.