"You Are What You Car"

Today I bought a new car. Just like that. It didn't take a lot of research or days of trying one car out and then another. I just went to my local Saturn dealer and bought it. I didn't get a sports car (my mid life crises is on hold), or an SUV. I didn't look at red cars or convertibles. I just went with a standard sedan in silver.

As I looked at the car it brought back something I heard years ago. My best friend Tucker told me, "You are what you car." In other words if you wanted to be seen as slightly edgy, pick a slightly edgy car. Or if you wanted to be sporty, pick a sporty car. I looked at my silver sedan and repeated to myself - you are what you car. And I car conservatively.

Now inside my new car I have On Star and Sirius Radio. I also have leather seats and radial wheel covers. So what you see is not completely what you are getting. The same with me. I have my moments of adventure.

Cars though have never been a big thing with me. I just want something that gets good mileage and is reliable. That is why I traded cars. My wife's car (she gets my hand me downs) has been acting up. I really didn't feel safe with her driving it back and forth to school every day. Plus it has 169,000 miles on it. We do tend to drive our cars till they drop.

I honestly tried to get my wife to take the new car, and I am going to keep on her about it. But she says she only drives to school and so she doesn't need the newer car. However she has been oohing and ahing over "Mini-Coopers." She thinks they are cute. I even heard her telling a friend that she thought the convertibles were great. If I hear her saying it would be nice to have one in yellow or red I will know her mid life crises has kicked in!

One reason I keep cars for so long is that I become attached to them. A few days ago the car I have been driving wouldn't start. I came out of a movie theater and it just wouldn't catch. I called my wife to come get me and then I called a towing service. After I made these calls I said I am going to give it one more try. The car started.

When I got it to the garage I use they said it was a bad sensor. They also told me they couldn't believe the car started. But I understood. My car had reached down and summoned all its power to make the engine start one more time. That's the kind of relationship I have with my cars. They take care of me and I take care of them.

That is the kind of tender loving care I will give my new car. The one that says I am a silver Saturn sedan kind of person. I am what I car, and doggone proud of it.
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

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