Happy birthday month to my first car! My car is turning 18 this year. It's kind of surreal I drive a car so old. Ha. I know the trend for some people is to drive a car until they're tired of it or something breaks or the features become too old. And then they sell it, trade it in, and get a newer model or a different type of car. Me? I've never felt that way. I'm a one and done kind of person. If things didn't deteriorate, break down, or wear, I'd keep things forever. Unfortunately (and fortunately for some things,) that is not the case and we replace clothing, shoes, cars, appliances, etc. Bluey would say replace husbands, but I think Gerald and Hecuba might disagree.
This was the first car I ever learned to drive on. In driving school, they actually had the exact same make and model of car as well so I never got used to driving any other car. I know everything this car has been through. There's a paint scratch on the back rear from when I hit the gas while still in reverse. That was probably the worst thing I've done to the car.
In high school, I was driving a pretty new car. It wasn't a brightly colored VW bug or a sports car, but it wasn't my parent's old minivan either.
By the front passenger door, there's a dent from my 17th birthday. The car was about 15 months old. I was running late for school that day and didn't park well. The right side of my car was on the line of the parking spot. I didn't have time to readjust. Or I chose not to readjust. Whatever the case, it was a teenage decision made from running behind and laziness. When I left school, I didn't notice anything major. The car beside me had left before I did though. A few weeks later, I noticed the dent. My mind was able to piece together where the damage came from, and I've never fixed it. It's purely cosmetic and the car has driven fine. I never told my dad about this and he's never asked.
We brought our first baby home from the hospital in this car. It went from being the pristinely clean car for a college kid to a car filled with food crumbs, dropped cheerios, toys in crevices, and tissues and wipes shoved into door handles. But I wouldn't have it any other way. This car has served me well through many stages of life and continues to do so today.
There's other dings and nicks in the car over the years. I lost one hubcap about three years ago and we removed all of them. My car definitely looks like an old car when I drive it. I don't notice the outside of the car when I'm inside so it doesn't phase me. The inside to me still looks pretty good. It's lacking some of the nicer features - no backup camera, no built in GPS or bluetooth connectivity. My clock went out years ago so I never know what time it is when I'm driving. Some of my control lights don't illuminate anymore at night.
It occurred to me this year my mother never knew this car. My dad purchased it the year after she died. It replaced the Chevy Celebrity she used to drive. The car started having some more problems and with my brother being a brand new driver, my dad wanted him driving something more reliable. That's how I ended up with such a new car in high school. I think I surprised myself because although I know my mother has missed out on many things in my life, my car has been in my life for a long time.
But that shows how much longer she's been gone....
 |
| This is almost the exact color of the one we owned. |
I only feel how old my car is when I have something to compare it to. I notice it the most when we travel and rent cars. Even our Kia rental car had nicer features than my car. I'd never choose to purchase that car for myself, but yes, it felt like a newer car on the inside.
The hope is for my car to make it long enough so my daughter can learn how to drive on it. That would be monumental if it were to actually happen. We do take pretty good care of it - parked inside, lightly driven, no punching the gas - so we'll see.
 |
| My first car. It'll always have a special place in my life no matter how plain it is. |
No comments:
Post a Comment