GOOD-BYE

He had grown frosty....
His defroster was no longer using hot air.
Likely due to the curiosity of one of the neighborhood squirrels.
Each morning he greeted me with an icy air.

G.G. once gave me advice on dealing with the Medusa.
When I was angry, stop and think what it would be like if she died...
and the petty thing that was bothering me would seem much less important.
(On a side note, I'd like to mention that this advice was given before the Medusa poured bleach on G.G.'s dark clothes in one of her snits.)

It was 28 degrees and my hands ached from scraping ice off of 

Clown Car's windshield.
I tired to warm them with my breath and 

picture what it would be like without Clown Car.
I thought back on the day I'd gotten him.
Life without any car at all had been much, much worse.
Count it as a blessing and drive on to work 

(Work: another somewhat dubious blessing).

And really, for the price of $1,000 I'd gotten a heck of a deal for several years.
If it had not been for Clown Car, 

I might never have met my husband and certainly
would never have driven 400 + back and forth most weekends for a year.

But then the man decided we would "follow the bumper" once again...
his code for "Its a surprise"
The bumper led us to the car dealership where he got his truck.

I decided not to get excited.
The man is funny, 

in that he enjoys researching and looking at things before he buys them.
This is followed by a mulling over period.
Being an impulse reactor myself, 

it is best for me to not think of this activity as anything more than entertainment.

"How can I help you folks today?" said the salesman with a commission smile.
The man tells him the type of car I had decided that I wanted.
He added 

"And what mama wants... mama gets."

But there it was... seductive smokey silver, with tinted windows, 

and room to haul my large boys around!
Despite the fact that I have never cheated on a spouse and never would...
the instant lust in my heart for this beast challenged me to dump Clown Car without the slightest hint that I could actually buy this dream machine.

We looked inside and out.
I sat in it and felt the comfort of the seat with its adjustable lumbar support.
(Later when I spoke of this to my eldest son, he laughed and said 

"Oh an old people's car!").
I touched all the buttons and looked over the sound system 

with its six speakers.
I appreciated its large "way back" that would keep

 Roxy in a happy roomy space on trips.
I was in love.

When the salesman asked if I wanted to test drive it, the man answered
"No.  We still need to crunch some numbers yet.  If its do-able we'll be back."
That was my man alright.
Good-bye my new road romance fantasy!

The man began to crunch and I continued to freeze every morning.
Every opportunity I had, I would chat up my dream car.
"It only has 32,000 miles on it."
"Un-huh.  I saw."
At one point the man had told me not to get too excited because 

it might not be there by the time we were ready.
"Fine."

(Said in dull listless tone.)

I had three days in a row off.  Whoopie!
Maybe one of those days we would follow the bumper!
Not on Thursday.
Not Friday.
I was giving up.

Saturday found us back at the dealership.
The man warned me of his top payment limit.
The salesman took his time doing his number crunching.
It came out $50 more that the man said we could spend.
My heart sank... but there would be other cars on other days... I told myself.
Sniffle.

My dissapointment must have shown on my face.
A worried look crossed the salesman's eye.
"I might could go a little lower." he added. "What is your ceiling?"
They dickered and I crossed my fingers, 

then said a little prayer.
They found a price they could both agree on.
My heart began to thump and I began to glow.

Bahahahahaha.... it was going to be mine!  

MINE!

Four bazillion forms and signatures later and after an endless amount of time...
the car went off to be detailed while we visited DMV guy...
where there were more forms and signatures.
"Is there anything you need to get from your Aspire?"

It was at this point that it hit me.
This was good-bye to Clown Car.
No need.
I had already given it a good cleaning and emptied it...
just in case.
I decided that I did not want to say good-bye in person

and invite my eyes to well up.

Yes, it is only an inanimate object...
but one that gave me so much pleasure and joy.
I'd driven to my grand babies births in that car...
Ferried my large boys here and there...
met the love of my life in it.
Softly I wished Clown Car would be adopted by a young family who desperately need him and would love him as I had for so long...
and that he would continue to serve faithfully.
Then I added that I hoped that they would fix his defroster hose for good measure.

Funny how you can be both delighted and sad at the same time.
When the last signature was signed and I was free to take my new ride...
I looked for Clown Car but he had been whisked away.
So long old friend!  And thank you!

The rumble and motion of the new-to-me-car made those feelings  

dissipate to a faint sorrow.
By the time I got home, I was giddy with joy.
Inside the house, I grabbed my cell to take a picture, 

eager to share my good news.
I had a missed call... and a voice mail...so I called and listened to it.
"Hi Mrs. H.  I wanted to thank you for the lovely brown purse... 

but I'm afraid it just doesn't go with my suit."
said the cheerful voice of the DMV guy.

Yep... I was so excited that I left my purse behind.
When I told the man he laughed and said...
"Yeah, you just did that so that you'd have a reason to drive it again."
We both knew that was not true, but it what a great idea for next time!
=;]

 
Now I'd like you to meet my new ride...

Otto.
Long may we ride together!

=:D