When I was sixteen, I could not wait to drive! Many of my friends had cars. Some were what you would expect for someone who was only beginning to drive, maybe a little beat up or possibly a bit older in style. Some were cars that I could only envy, convertibles and classics. I honestly didn't have a clue what I would be driving. I spent my days dreaming of what most sixteen years olds dream of...shopping for thecar they would come to cherish. It was, after all, a right of passage. When the time came for me to actually get a car, my parents and I searched for just the right fit. Little did I know, my parents and I didn't exactly have the same idea of the "perfect fit". I was thinking small, compact, possibly even practical. I never was someone who wanted to drive a fancy car. As it turns out, my parents were not thinking in terms of small. They were not thinking in terms of compact. And if you ask me, they certainly weren't thinking in terms of "practical". As it turned out, I really didn't have much say in the matter of my "dream car", because right before my very eyes, and certainly beyond my control, I because the not-so-proud driver of a 1990's Ford Aerostar Van.
The van and I mixed just about as well as oil and water. I am just barely over five feet tall, and it was almost comical watching me try to maneuver this bright teal monstrosity. I would park multiple blocks away from my school so that I didn't have to park in the school's tiny parking lot, and probably to avoid being seen. I don't think it ever occurred to me that this walking a couple blocks to school in and of itself defeated the purpose of having a car. To make matters worse, shortly after the van came into my possession, the sliding back door broke, and I had to drive around with bungee cords wrapped tightly around the passenger side doors in order to ensure they would stay in place. Hardly any of my friends dared to ride along as my passenger, and I can't say that I blamed them.
While at the time, I found it mortifying, I can look back now and realize that I am incredibly lucky to have had a car to drive. I can even realize that I now have a few incredibly funny stories stemming from driving such an interesting vehicle for so long.
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I could definitely see how you would be frustrated as a teenager, but it also sounds like one heck of an adventure.
ReplyDeleteAwesome story! My first was a 73 GMC truck with rust holes in the floor by both doors and in the winter you had to put your foot over the hole otherwise snow and slush would flip up into the cab... sigh, good times!
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