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June 26, 2006
It's Just Four Doors and a Couple of Axles, But To Me It Will Always Be Me*
This weekend we celebrated Laurie's 35th over on her gorgeous patio, with Karman & Shannon, Penny, Gwen, Faith, and Amber in attendance. There was plenty of wine, girl talk, and righteous indignation. At least on my part.
You see, Laurie was telling this story about this harmlessly nefarious character from her past, not letting her drive his car because, OMG, it had a SPOILER. Because girls can't drive cars with spoilers.
And anyway, I pipe up, "My car has a spoiler!"
And Karman is all, "Yeah, a spoiler. But a spoiler on a granola-eating, Birkenstock-wearing car."
I GOT SO OFFENDED. In fact, I was embarassed later about how all sorts of LOUD and offended I got. BUT THAT IS MY CAR.
Yes, it is a 2000 Subaru Outback Impreza, but it is an Outback Impreza SPORT, people! There is like one of those scoopy, drafty things on the front to draw in air for when I overheat it in a race! The Subaru wins the rally championship practically every year!! How many more exclamation points should I put to indicate my outrage??!!!
Bollocks.
Driving is a Big Deal in my family. My dad races vintage cars for a hobby. That's him:
The time your family spends around the table talking about the weather or movies or whatever your filler conversation topic of choice is? Is the time my family talks about bad drivers and the latest car models. Your car is WHO YOU ARE.
LA just exacerbates this familial oddity. What do you drive?
So when Karman told me I was the equivalent of a Volvo driver? I FREAKED.
Poor Karman.
Little did she know that a lot of my freakdom came from the fact that my car hit 90,000 miles a few weeks ago. And that I'm starting to realize I'll need a new one. At least I will after I graduate.
So I drive along the highways of LA, to Laurie's in the Valley, across town to work and back. I peer into people's windows. The Honda CRV, the Prius, the BMW wagon, the Toyota 1983 Land Cruiser, what will I be? Will I pretty? Will I be rich? Here's what they said to me: Que sera, sera.
I thought that by 30 I'd have it all figured out. But nope, I'm just 6 months shy and still don't know what I will be.
But dammit. It will be rockin'. And so will my car, whatever it is. Que sera, sera.
*That line, BTW, is adopted from one of my favorite movies ever, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, with Myrna Loy and Cary Grant.
Posted by jen at June 26, 2006 11:32 PM
Comments
I'll be 60 soon and still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I retired from my paying job and now will collect retirement benefits so I can go back to school in the effort to figure out what I really want to be. LOL
Posted by: still-dont-know at June 27, 2006 06:31 AM
You want a Honda S2000. Or maybe the Nissan 350Z. That way no one can ever accuse you of being like a Volvo driver. Not that Volvo drivers are bad. I have friends who drive Volvos. They are also one step away from being soccer moms though.
Posted by: Dagny at June 27, 2006 10:27 AM
I like that you took the picture of your car from the side with hubcaps. Or did you get new ones?
Also? We just bought Jen a new car! It's a Mazda 6, but it doesn't have a spoiler. But it is a V6! It's schwank, dude. I want to steal it.
Posted by: Jeff at June 27, 2006 10:42 AM
no comment ;)
Posted by: Penny at June 27, 2006 02:38 PM
Hey, you are way cool with your Subie. My boys and his friends changed the "Slug bug" game into a "Subie" game. Like whenever you see a Subaru, you yell "Subie". They have lots of rules they have created for this game. I think it is funny because I catch myself saying "Subie". Like just now when I say your car.
My 1998 Toyota Rav4 just hit 90,000 too and I've been dreaming about a sports car, convertible, that can take the corners at 60. If I try that now I will tip over. SUV = glorified station wagon (never van).
Posted by: psychomom at June 27, 2006 03:04 PM
Jen: it is a 2000 Subaru Outback Impreza
Better bring it over to the outback then, so it can live up to its name! :)
Posted by: dan at June 27, 2006 05:26 PM
My '95 Ford Explorer is creeping up on 170,000 miles and is beginning to have transmission issues. I think I'm going to be car shopping within the next week or two.
Posted by: nessacery at June 28, 2006 12:34 AM
I do believe I compared your car to Batman, the greatest superhero ever. Also, I've given it some thought, and I think you should get a RAV4. So cute! And relatively efficient! But still tough and sporty!
Posted by: Gwen at June 28, 2006 10:12 AM
Go see An Inconvenient Truth and then get a hybrid. And if anyone tries to make fun of your dorky car, all you need mention is how you are saving the world and getting much better gas mileage than them. (This also means fewer trips to the gas station, which is awesome.) Plus it will make a nice balance to your corporate lawyer image.
Posted by: Urs at July 3, 2006 01:41 PM
Plus it will make a nice balance to your corporate lawyer image.
And you get to feel all smug and superior.
Posted by: Jeff at July 6, 2006 03:35 PM
Would someone for crying out loud please tell me what the deal is with not wanting to be a Volvo driver??!! I'm not offended. Really, I'm not. But, I ended up with a Volvo accidently, and now I just don't get it, what is wrong with the Volvo. there must be somethign significant that I am missing!
Posted by: Liz at July 9, 2006 04:54 PM