That’s a friend from college, Rhonda G, packing my car when we were heading out for a weekend retreat. I’ve been planning a post about cars for a while, but I’m a bit under the weather and not up for a lot of writing. So for now, I’m just sharing this photo of the first car I ever bought BRAND NEW, all my own–with my mother’s assistance, but I repaid her, so I still say it was MINE ALL MINE. It was a 1987 Civic Wagon, and I loved it every minute I had it. When it was nearing 100,000 miles and we were having to start doing repairs, plus it was time for Tom to replace his little Civic hatchback, we decided to trade both cars in. I cried my eyes out when I drove off the lot because I loved that car so much. It didn’t help that I never liked the Civic sedan that replaced it, so when I traded that one in early to get my CR-V, I never even waved goodbye to it.
If Honda ever makes this little wagon again, I will find a way to own one–because they have priced the CR-V out of range for a writer’s meager wage.
I didn’t cry when I got rid of that hot pink luggage (the one on the end; the red stuff was Rhonda’s), even though that five-piece set had traveled with me since high school graduation, and now it’s considered “vintage” and “cool.”
When I make all that money off of my book for stupid men, I will buy you any car you want! I promise!
Yay!
Did your car have a name? My very first all-mine-car was named “Tina-Goose”. It was a 1969 Ford Cortina and the horn sounded like a goose honking. (so original…) I totally understand crying when your car was traded. Ditto.
Aw. I had to go look at photos of the Ford Cortina, and now I want one.
I don’t think my car had a name. I don’t think any of my cars had names until my CR-V, Jet. I could be just forgetting, though.
My car that I loved dearly was my little Subaru Justy with the “voodoo transmission”.
That tiny little car drove like a dream when it was actually working. It left me stranded in some interesting places and I met some interesting people because of it, including the guy that came up with “voodoo transmission” and it eventually went to car heaven but I’d take another one again in a minute!
And with a model name like Justy, no other name was needed. It was Justy car or Justy wreck or Justy nightmare.
I never see any old Justys on the road and I suspect there’s a good reason for that….
It’s amazing the affection we feel for our cars, isn’t it, even when they are…”quirky,” is a kind word.