Gordon Lightfoot – Carefree Highway

My car just turned 102,000 miles. (Sigh) It seems like just yesterday when she (yes she) and I were cruising around the Westside with the open sunroof, new car smell, with only 70 miles on her odometer. I hope she sticks around for another 100,000, so I can pass her on to my daughter Jordan, who’ll be driving in 2 years. At least I know she’s reliable and will keep Jordan safe.

As close as I feel to my current car, a white 2003 Toyota Highlander, I have the best memories of my 1989 Toyota Camry. That car and I had been through ALOT together. Sad stuff like bad dates and failed relationships. But plenty of fun, youthful times too, like driving with friends along the sunny coast with the open sunroof and singing “Brown-Eyed Girl” at the top of our lungs.

Most of my cars had good juju. They weren’t evil Christines (as in the Stephen King book/movie) trying to kill me or set me up for a bad accident. My flat tires always happened where help was nearby.

Looking back at my first car, a yellow 1972 VW Beetle, kind of reminds me of life and the aging process. My brother let me have it in 1983 when he left for college. It was cute and youthful-looking with a new paint job. But over the next 4 years that I used it, it really fell apart. I don’t know, maybe it missed my brother.

First, the window handle broke off. For you youngsters, we used to have to manually roll down the windows by making a cranking motion with a lever. It’s similar to dialing a rotary phone or using a manual return on a typewriter. Oh, never mind.

Eventually , the rearview mirror popped off, the glove compartment refused to close. Alot of things stopped working: the speedometer, odometer, and gas gauge. It was tricky trying to not get a speeding ticket or not run out of gas. And of course all the big repairs came along: brake jobs, CV joints, alternators, until it was finally time to say good-bye and just let it flatline.

But my sad little VW taught me alot about people getting old too. For example, the parts started creaking, herky-jerky movements, alignment problems, smelly emissions, fluid leakage, you get the idea. But I sure get attached to my cars, just like how I’m sentimental about this old body. I like it the way it is right now and I’m not looking forward to the day I gotta put it out to pasture.

Meanwhile, I’m going to live it up more than ever before, squeeze every bit of fun in, and get the most mileage out of life. Come with?

Now it’s your turn. Tell me a car story and/or answer the following:

• What was your first car?
• Did you have a favorite car and why was it special?
• What’s your Dream Car and who’s your Dream Passenger?

Rihanna – Shut Up and Drive

Gary Numan – Cars

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