COUNTDOWN ALERT: FOUR MORE DAYS TO FIGHTBALL: DYING OF SUCK!
In the meantime, I give you this:
I walk into the room, and Mark is watching the television. Without taking his eyes off the screen, his voice rapturous, he says, “It’s beautiful. Look at it. It’s just as gorgeous now as it was back then.”
I look at the television. All I see is a car. Mark keeps talking.
“I can’t believe it’s almost 50 years old. LOOK AT IT. The lines of it, the power of it … LOOK AT IT. It’s perfect. Even after almost 50 years, it’s still perfect.” He sighs happily.
I settle into the couch beside him. “You don’t usually talk like that. Good to know that when the occasion calls for it, you can work up heartfelt emotion about the things you love.”
He misses the sarcasm. “LOOK AT IT … fifty years old and perfect. Still just as timeless and amazing as the day it rolled off the line. THAT NEVER HAPPENS. That’s like a once in a lifetime thing.”
“Is it, though?”
“IT SO IS.”
“I’ll just put you down for a short speech at the party, then.”
He turns to look at me for the first time since I walked into the room, his face confused. “What?”
“I’m going to be fifty in a few months.”
He is beyond flustered. “I was talking about the car.”
“I know. Use that same rhapsodic voice when you talk about me turning fifty. Timeless … amazing … perfect … once in a lifetime … that sort of thing. Like I said, I’ll put you down for a speech.”
“Ummm …” He pats my arm awkwardly. “You’re different.”
“Am I indeed?”
“You’re …,” he searches for a word, “ … you’re YOU.”
“Nice save, babe.”
“What? You’re not a Camaro.”
And … unsaved.
Sometimes, I have no idea at all what you women are on about.
Like Mark said, you are NOT a Camaro.
They are still perfect.
Whoa.
I thought you would understand where Mark was coming from.
Sigh.
Men. They just don’t get it.
It’s not like it was a stock ’68 Dodge Charger.
(Wish I still had mine)
I had no cool cars when I was young.
An early 70s Honda Civic.
Hee hee.
Wait, that’s not quite true … RIGHT AFTER I met Mark, the Honda died, and he convinced me to buy a Fiat Spyder.
That was actually a very cool car, but as Mark was involved in its purchase … the Honda was the only car that was truly ME.
Ack.
My early drivinghood was before the gas crisis. I was acquainted with several cool cars. The Charger was the only one I owned.
I still miss the muscle cars.
Mark grew up just outside of Detroit … his childhood was all about cars.
Everyone in Michigan misses the muscle cars.
They so do.
Oh I like your style! One of my dream cars…. may have to trade the hubby in for it
I am going to assume you are talking to Renee.
Hee hee.
Of course you are.
My first car was a TR3, soft top. If it is still in existence, it would be a good bit older than you are.
We had so many cars growing up … I still have a soft spot for Volkswagen vans.
And I learned to drive with an ENORMOUS white station wagon whose make and model escapes me.
Like a boat, that car was.
Geez, Mark has not learned how to not unsave himself it seems.
Also, we are the same age almost exactly.
Are we? That’s kind of awesome. March 14, 1966.
You?
2/2/66!
A very good year.
Very good.
I’m currently working on a 1964 Ford Galaxie. She’s a beauty. I will most definitely have to send you some pics for Mark because he will love her lines.
Also, if he doesn’t use that voice in his speech about you, you have my permission to throw eggs at him. Lots of eggs. Even some hard boiled if the moment calls for them.
I cannot begin to tell you how much Mark would love to see the photos you mentioned.
Yes. Send photos.
I am off to boil eggs.