Take me back....

Just had a weird reminiscent moment. My first car was a 1988 gray Subaru coupe (above...a strong likeness). Her name was "The Blur" and I loved her. She was my ticket to freedom. My parents purchased her from a Dentist in our ward for probably $1500. She smelled of oil, anti-freeze and peach pine tree air freshener. She rattled on the freeway (when Tyler tricked me into getting on the 215) and the back seat wore a blanket to hide the tears. I couldn't afford to fix the flat tire so inevitably, I had to pump up the tire anytime I went somewhere and hoped it held the air long enough to either 1) get me to a gas station with free air or 2) back home to the air compressor.

I was driving down 7200 South today, a/c blasting, radio on and Mc nodding off in the back. It brought my back to the summer of 1999. I was a Junior in high school. I could feel my back, sweaty and sticking to the back of the seat and the radio blaring- probably STYX. The windows were rolled down, my hair sticking in my chapstick as it whipped from the breeze. I felt so important. So grown up. I felt cool- I was driving a rusty, stinky car but it didn't matter as long as everyone around could hear my stereo and I had some place to go.

Now, 11 years later, I have a brand new car, a car seat in the back and an IPOD. I don't feel so "cool" or as "free"..something about those summers in a heap-o-junk car that make summers never feel the same. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my 2009 car with a/c for anything but I firmly believe that Subaru built a huge piece of my character. Just saying.