New Car

Joe College bought a car. Or rather, he acquired a car -- it's a long story. He and OLGS drove a car to Chicago for a friend who had purchased it on EBay. The friend, an excellent mechanic who had kept his 1992 Toyota Corolla running, insisted that Joe College would be doing a favor by taking the old car off his hands. His wife and kids, he said, cringed when they had to ride in it. And one can see why.

It is now parked in front of the house, but, as OLGS pointed out, on the other side of the street so that it isn't associated with us. It has lots of rust and a wonderful jerry-rigged taillight that is an invitation to any aggressive police officer. The Volvos and new Hondas also parked in our neighborhood are looking down their hoods, or noses.

Joe College is in hog heaven over his first car, at least the first that he actually owns himself. Tomorrow he goes to the DMV to make it his officially. And it gets 32 MPG highway and burns only a little oil (less in the winter, according to our friend). And the price was right -- free, with a beautiful rug from Afghanistan thrown in to pacify yours truly.

I'm happy for Joe. I remember my first car -- a 1960's slantback Volvo that I bought with help from my dad. It was blue (just like Joe's new car), and when I see one on the street (which still occasionally happens), I feel a twinge. There's nothing like first love.