I think I’ve mentioned before that I did NOT want to learn how to drive. Why drive myself when somebody else can drive for me? (To this day, if I could have one perk of the wealthy, I would choose a personal driver. No question. Well, the unlimited shoe budget is a close second, but I’d still go with a driver.)
Needless to say, not only could my parents not afford to get me a car when I was 16, I had no desire for one. I was happy satisfied to be driven around in the family yellow station wagon or conversion van. When I was a senior in high school, I got my first job. I waited tables at Chelsea Street Pub and Grill in the mall on the weekends. So, I had to take one of the family cars. Well, that got old and it became apparent that I was going to have to have my own vehicle. So, after I graduated, I took my fist full of $2500 and went searching. There aren’t many cars that an 18 year old girl wants that are automatic and cost less than $3000. Nevertheless, I think the car salesman LOST money on me, but I was the proud owner of a 1993 white Eagle Summit.
That car was the best. The speedometer didn’t work, so I never had any idea how fast I was going. (But never got a speeding ticket!) This is the car that I never changed the oil in, so it only lasted me a few years. (Remember - engines break when you don’t change the oil.)
I went back to borrowing cars for a couple months until I graduated college and accepted my first teaching job. At that point, I knew that I needed an actual new car. I had signed on the dotted line that I would be getting a salary, so I felt confident in adding a car note to my plate. Fortunately, I dated the roommate of the Finance Director at the local Ford house, so I got a pretty sweet deal on a 2000 Mustang.
I had the car for about 3 days before I went driving around town, saying goodbye to all my friends before moving to Austin. I was all teary-eyed and sad as I drove down the country road back to my parent’s house. AND HIT A DOG. It was a dalmation and I killed it. So, I was sobbing by the time I got home, because who really wants to kill a dog? Besides that, the front bumper of my brand new car was all broken. (Never got it fixed either)
After getting a dog and transporting her in their crate in the back seat back and forth to Lubbock, I realized I needed a 4-door vehicle. So, as sad as it was, I traded in the Mustang for my 2003 Altima.
I had just gone in “to look” but apparently was a pretty easy target for the salesman. I don’t mind. I love my Altima. Love it so much that I managed to put 100,000 miles on it. It happened last Sunday on the way to church. I took a picture as it happened. The song on the radio was “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind” by George Strait.
Now I just have to decide if I want to drive it until the wheels fall off since it is almost paid for, or if it is time to open the next chapter of my car history. (Not like I have any say…. SOMEBODY probably won’t let me get a new one until I pay off my student loans.)
5 comments:
Ah...the Mustang picture brings back memories of trips downtown and/or down Lamar. Remember going to that pool hall on Lamar to play darts?
Ah, the pool hall. I loved that place.
Remember when both Dale and Dan specifically said for us to NOT separate, but poor Margaret had to go fetch the Mustang while I baby-sat you? Hahaha, good times.
I do remember that, unfortunately. Ya'll took me home, put a note on Dale's door telling him I was at home in bed, and went back down town. ROCK STARS!
I thought you had an unlimited shoe budget
Hm-m-m... About that "fist full of $2,500." I seem to recall a parental policy that went something like this: "We have chosen a lifestyle of Gospel simplicity. That means we cannot pay for our children to go to college. Y'all must have degrees, however. So, we'll put some kind of functional wheels under you, thus enabling you to get jobs and finish school." (We also suggested y'all live at home to save money. Hah! Fat chance of that happening, eh? Only Joseph took us up on that deal.) Thanks for doing so well and making your parents proud!
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