Monday, July 6, 2015

TAL Challenge: Cars

Act One: 1983 Toyota Tercel

I liked to drive around at night with the windows open when I was 16 and got my driver's license.  The car didn't go in reverse, so I had to park only in places that were very flat, or out of which I could pull forward.  Tricky.  Got me into trouble from time to time.

I remember a smell like burning plastic, fabric seats in a neutral color.  I didn't have many passengers.


Act Two: 1989 Honda Civic Hatchback Real Time 4WD 

Stellar light blue color and a stick shift I learned to drive in the graveyard with high school boyfriend.  I liked that graveyard, and there were running trails linked to the back I used to traverse.  I rode the clutch and the brakes, and the car broke down a million times, running hot, smoke from the hood, metal-on-metal squeaks.

I had this car the summer I babysat for one set of siblings, my brother and sister.  The summer my brother dyed his hair and eyebrows blonde and maybe jumped off the roof onto the trampoline.  I got locked in the bathroom, and Devin had to take the door off the hinges.  We went to the pool, and I drove the car.

Act Three: 2011 Toyota Sienna

This car is my dream.  I love riding high with the kids in the captain's chairs.  I love the foldable seats and the cargo space.  I love picking up people and have plenty of room.

I have never made out in this car.  Not even once.

But, I have meditated, sobbed, and maybe crashed into the step in my garage.  At the beginning of the summer, Shef scratched the heck out of the right side with his bike.  "I scratched the car," he said sheepishly.

"I see that," I said calmly.  And then I kept driving it.

1 comment:

mm said...

I hope that you are able to make out in your car. No really!