I bought a new alternator today.  Or I should say, I had one installed in my car today.  My car again runs just like it should.  I feel like I’ve made a major upgrade.  I think what I did is incredible.  Now the lights don’t slowly dim, the radio stays on, the fan works, and the battery stays charged, all on its own.  The casual observer wouldn’t know that anything’s any different than yesterday. I’m just a guy driving down the road in a fully-functioning car.  My alternator could be days, months or years old.  They don’t know. No one could tell my alternator was new but me.

Having an alternator installed in your car is like buying new garbage cans, new kitchen towels, a crown on your tooth, or new socks.  Functional but it’s nothing that could get you a date.  You’re glad that you made this grand acquisition but no one beside you cares.