Heather Garcia's Series of Unfortunate Events
I've been trying to find a way out of my book rut. I've been spending most of my spare time reading, and it's all I can think of for blog inspiration. (I have two more book reviews just waiting to be published) Today I found another source for many stories, rants and lessons learned: my cars.
My first car was a black cherry 1990 Chrysler LeBaron. It was a hand-me-down from my parents for my 16th birthday. That car had some well-developed character. Even now I'm recalling more stories that had been pushed aside for so long, I had forgotten. I remember being ashamed of the LeBaron at first, but after a new paint job and the installation of a CD player, I was content to be the chauffeur for my friends.
As the LeBaron got older, it became a little more cranky. The blinkers wouldn't blink. The speedometer refused to register unless you beat on the plastic pane (a hairbrush usually did the trick). The fabric on the ceiling lost its youthful feel and started to drag down like a fat man's belly over my head. Eventually we got rid of the fabric, leaving the rough material underneath exposed. My dad painted it to match the interior, but if anyone touched it, little pieces of Styrofoam-like material would cascade down into their eyes, revealing the original mustard color (and usually producing some shrieks and watery eyes at the same time). One of my high school friends once told me that it looked like I locked someone in my car and they tried to claw their way out.
Aside from all of its character, many of my stories involve actual events that happened with my car, such as the time I flew off the road and into a ditch on my second day with my license, or the time I drove into the concrete pillar at the gas station. Then there was the time my car died, and I coasted downhill from the bridge crossing Hwy 67 through a stoplight and into a K-Mart parking spot. Can't forget the time my alternator went out as I was driving up the hill on Hwy 5, coming home from my summer babysitting job. I also remember when I parked too close to the little parking block at Taco Bell and some wires were pulled loose. When my car wouldn't start, I thought it was because I was low on gas. My friend and I walked over to the nearest gas station to purchase a gas can and some gas in a feeble attempt to start my car. Needless to say, it didn't work. (Note: this was all back before I had my own cell phone) I don't know how many times I left my headlights on and had to get jump-started, or how many times my car just randomly died when I was dropping off friends from school.
Like I said, there's a vault full of little treasure stories involving me and my car, and I haven't even touched on my second car OR the fun ones with me in my parents' cars! I learned a lot of lessons during the two years of driving the LeBaron. Slow down before you make a turn. If your radio turns off by itself, there's as good chance your car is about to die. You have to turn your headlights off manually when you don't drive a car that does it automatically. Have patience with people who don't use their blinker because in all honesty it might be broken. And perhaps most of all, embrace the crazy twists life throws at you (even if it's one you twisted yourself). They help you to learn, and it makes life unexpected and not so boring.
