For those of you following my posts to Linda’s blog (I’m guessing that’s maybe three people, and I can’t always count Linda in that total), I wrote recently about the differences between girls and boys. I’m sure I opened more than a few eyes on that one. Now I need to address the differences between women and men.
Last week, a tree hit my car. Honest. A mighty wind cracked a large branch off a tree across the street and it landed smack-dab on my convertible. All arrows point to: “It’s totaled.”*
I am in mourning of sorts, because I really, really, really like this car. My father always drove convertibles – his last car was a ’67 Olds Cutlass drop-top that I was just a few months from getting to drive before it was totaled itself –
— and I finally got a Chrysler convertible a few years ago that turned out to be as much of a pain in the rear as my last girlfriend. But when I got this one, a used Toyota, I was very happy because it was solid and reliable and everything worked.
Looking at my emotions as we await the insurance company’s judgment on what they’ll give us for our loss, I realize I have been identifying myself by my car, and probably have been since I was in high school, driving a ’72 Plymouth Sport Fury Station Wagon.
Now people know me by my convertible. If I need to go back to a hardtop, will I disappear? I don’t know too many women who are so closely tied to their cars (though Linda loved her VW Cabriolet …
… which I drove while hunched down as far as I could get), and I’m guessing that women identify themselves more with their homes, as Linda has been doing the last few years.
I remind myself that it is just a car, that no one was hurt, that people endure far worse, that we are all still happy and healthy, that the financial strain will pass eventually, and that I will get another car.
Do you think Linda would be okay with me getting a ’61 Chrysler 300 convertible?
Mike
*And in the end, the insurance company totaled the Solara. A car that we owned for all of three months …
oh no oh no oh no oh no. This post did make me feel a little bad for my husband who “inherited” my old Honda CRV when we bought a minivan. It’s been 10 years since the guy has driven a car of his own choosing. Time to reconsider?
Men have a special relationship with vehicles, convertible or not. I swear that hubby has almost washed the paint off his sportscar (**that I found at a garage sale and told him we should go look at) 2008 Audi TT we purchased for cash for a steal. My, I just want something reliable and comfortable.
Mike, I am so sorry for your loss. I guess I must be part man, because I am a huge car lover and always have been. I don’t think it’s that you identify yourself by the car, you just have deep appreciation of them! I think a car can be magic. How else can you describe the emotions a special one can stir? Would James Bond be 007 if he drove a Ford Fiesta? Maybe, but I don’t they would have made a sequel. We have to drive our cars everyday, and while on the one hand, it really just needs to safely get you from A to B, what’s wrong with enjoying the ride entire way? Much luck getting a new baby to love from this car-crazy girl 😉
Mike,
I’m doing the math….. I’m comment #4 and none are Linda, so that means you have at least four faithful followers. If Linda doesn’t think driving around with you in that ’61 Chrysler isn’t awesome, I’ll loan you my husbands rusty work truck. That should convince her.
~Bliss~
Mike–when my husband and I married, he drove a Camaro Z-28. Within a year, he was driving a Ford Escort. I promise I had nothing to do with it.
I waited 35 years to get the car I always wanted. I bought a 2006 Mustang (not a rag top) and I love it! It’s totally impractical, I only drive it half the year but I’d rather have it and drive an old beater in the winter than have a car I don’t love to drive. GO FOR IT!! but maybe try parking it in a garage…
Love the Chrysler!!
Get it in orange, love it!
My husband is particularly attached to his 2-seater convertible, which isn’t very practical for us and 3 small kids, but he loves it.
Jessica
stayathomeista.com
Mike- go for it!!
laura
Awe, sorry about the loss of your beloved car, Mike. I’m not much of a car person other than I love and have a history of Toyotas (just something reliable) and my husband will drive whatever gets him to work and back (he deserves something better than he drives but it’s better than the rusted truck we called the “chick magnet” which was anything but). Do what you love and if that’s another convertible – by all means do it! Happy car shopping!
Oh no. Rest in peace Solra you had such a short life.
Ok, enough mourning. I say you go get yourself a new convertible Mustang. Oh be still my heart. Wonder i I could come park my van under that same tree for a while? 🙂
My heart breaks for the Solara. 🙁 I’ve always loved convertibles, but now that we have a two-week-old baby, we’re probably about 17 years, 11 months and 2 weeks away from that being a practical purchase.
And to your question of whether women’s identities are connect to their cars? My answer is please, PLEASE let my identity be separate from my ride: http://www.viewalongtheway.com/2012/01/goodbye-pride/
I am not a convertible type of person, me and mum were talking about this,this morning she doesn’t like the outside noise and me I am not all that crash hot on it either that said I am windows down person so maybe I would like a convertible who know but I do have to say that red one looked good…….
Ugh! That sucks that they totaled the car! And I can totally relate to identifying so closely with a car. My husband has had his jeep wrangler since we met…and now that it’s broken down, I can’t imagine not fixing it. So we’ll put more money into it than it’s worth so we can continue to be the people with the 17 year old jeep wrangler, it’s our identity. 🙂
Ah memories, I rocked my dad’s red station wagon with wood panels and a dog cage and gun racks in the back! Guess his evil plan of keeping the boys away from me worked!
Go for that orange Chrysler – we only live once!
Besides, Linda won’t be able to argue with the wind whipping through her hair as you tool around town with your top down!
Kelly
It stinks about the Solara. I know what you mean about men and their cars. My husband has a ’95 Cobra and he LOVES it!!He even has his ’88 Plymoth Horizon (first car he ever owned) that he drives back and forth to work. He just can’t part with it. It’s not the nicest looking car but it drives great and gets good gas mileage.
That ’61 Chrysler rocks!!! This Lynda would totally be okay with it, teehee 🙂
I do identify most with my kitchen, but most of us women don’t get to identify ourselves with our cars, because they’re usually the grocery, baby and sports gear carrying kid-mobile. All about function and usually nothing about style or personality. I sure had no wish to connect myself to the 15-passenger Ford van, in boring white, no less, we had for several years (I admit to loving the sound of its powerful engine going up a hill at good speed). It was somewhat better when we switched to the Toyota Sienna mini van, but still just a choice based on room and reliability. I’m feeling much more kinship now with my cute and sporty 1989 BMW 325i that I inherited from my mother-in-law. Not that I am a spot like her in almost any way, and it’s white, too, but I do love that car and it feels more like ‘me.’
So sorry about your Solara. Hope you find a great replacement.
Now THAT is a bummer. A big boy, mac-daddy bummer. Boys and their toys… I totally get it. Now buck up and go car shopping. 🙂 Now that Linda’s so famous in blogland, you’ve gotta hold your own in the car department.