Dodge a Bullet

December 7, 2013

     Michelle inquired about my Xterra. She wants to know if it is still for sale. I nearly deleted the message, thinking it is a crazy person from Craigslist and yet, a sensation in my gut, one that compelled me to put my vehicle on the market in the first place, urged me to reply to her. If in fact, it is a ”her.” She responded before the ink dried, with a slew of questions about the history of the car, which I do not know very well. In fact, I bought it from the parents of the owner, since she was unavailable, a veterinarian student, I was told, who drove back and forth, over the mountain passes, from Boulder to Seattle, to visit her folks. Story seemed viable enough. Dog hair is the second layer of the back seat and rear of the vehicle, impossible to vacuum out so I simply pass the wand over the top of it, hoping for the best. I explained to “Michelle” what I knew, promised to take photos of the interior, when it isn’t sub-zero temps and light enough to focus the camera properly, and sent the reply along the VIN.                   

     My first car was a three-on-the-tree Dodge Dart Swinger, yellow and rust. I didn’t even know how to drive a stick so my roommate, Ann, an auto mechanic, helped me pick it up. Dan, the bartender I worked with at The Valley in Dinkytown, asked if he could drive it and I let him behind the wheel, in exchange for driving lessons. He took me to a railroad crossing, happened to be on a perilous incline, and insisted I start it up. Soaked through my shirt that day but ended up back at home, intact, and here to tell the story. 

     Since the Dodge Dart, I have owned numerous Toyotas (solo new car was a Corolla) a few Volvos (wagons and sedan) and one Subaru. I drove a company car, at one point in time, in Dallas, a Fiero, black and sassy. It went back to the leasing agency, once the pragmatic company decided corporate cars were not cost effective.

     Tyrus has been limping a lot these days, jumping out of the tall vehicle seat. I choose to get something more gas efficient and lower to the ground, for the poor beast to travel comfortably.  He has one hundred pounds crashing into his shoulders. Not a good combination, in addition to long walks twice a day, chasing cats and squirrels in the neighborhood. I will take him along to test drive the new car, to be sure he approves.