I just parallel parked between two frighteningly pristine Harleys on my street. I was pretty much drenched in sweat when I was done. I know the Harley guys ... they're hot tough dudes who live at the end of my street, and they occasionally have raucous parties where live bands play, and they spend hours working on their bikes. I could have fixed my makeup in the damn reflection of the metal, the bikes are so perfect. I do not want to jeopardize my relationship with the hot Harley dudes ... but I also wanted to park on my street. I struggled with the decision, as I imagined myself toppling one of the bikes into a crumpled metally mess. Way to go for positive thinking, sheilbabe. But I went at it carefully, methodically, and all went well.
Today I have driven on turnpikes, bumpy access roads, local streets, and frightening freeways.
I have befriended a mechanic.
I compulsively check EVERYTHING before I leave the car. Doors locked? Tires fine? Parking job okay? Let's check it again. Doors locked? Tires fine? Parking job okay? Cool. Uhm ... one more time. Doors locked? .... etc. ad nauseum. Exeunt.
I'm still scared of my car and I am also not used to having a car-owner identity (yet). It's not yet part of my world view. I feel like an imposter. Yeah, whatevs, I own a car, this is my car. I have a car. I check the rear view mirror. I roll down the window (MANUALLY), I put on my signal, I merge, I speed up, I brake. And all the while I'm like: whoo. HOO. Look at me. Drivin' a freakin' car.
There are memories involving cars I prefer not to dwell upon.
It's a new world, baby.
Posted by sheila | TrackBack/Doors locked? Tires fine? Parking job okay? Let's check it again. Doors locked? Tires fine? Parking job okay?/
Hahahahaha! The total OCD of that.
This is the best thing. Such a great great thing for your life, all that freedom. You are not an imposter. You are car-drivin' diva, sheilbabe. Embrace your destiny.
Posted by: tracey at October 20, 2007 2:35 PMMaybe you need to drive this car up to RI. I'm just saying.....
Posted by: just1beth at October 20, 2007 3:10 PMGood job, red. Your Meadow Soprano moment? :)
There's a "thirtysomething" episode where one of the characters goes on about what constitutes a successful life. It went something like this: "If you're lucky, you find a job that doing what you love, find a person you want to make a life and home with, and if you're really lucky, free parking.".
Posted by: Rob at October 20, 2007 3:22 PMI understand your fear about parking between bikes, especially these particular guys' hogs. No way, uh uh. I am always so very scared I'll knock bikes over and would NEVER have even attempted to park between two of them. Believe me, IMO, you are a car owning rock star to have done that! Enjoy your new status.
Posted by: Jackie at October 21, 2007 5:50 AMBeth - I do!!! Soon soon soon.
Posted by: red at October 21, 2007 8:42 AMGiven the pressure you faced, what with the duo of ultra-clean Harleys, I'd have to say that you already parallel park better than half the population of North America.
Posted by: Noonz at October 21, 2007 2:29 PMAlex - I definitely need to get back in the swing of things ... but I will never forget that once upon a time I parallel parked a battered stick-shift Westfalia camper van on one of the treacherous hills of San Francisco - If I can do that? I can do anything!!
Posted by: red at October 21, 2007 2:32 PMHoly CRAP, Sheila. You are a closeted parking ninja! Stockwell (that is its name, right?) is in good hands.
Posted by: Noonz at October 21, 2007 2:35 PMI think I even burst into tears at one point during the ordeal. I so thought I was going to plummet into San Francisco bay in a fiery mesh. My boyfriend stood on the curb and he was kind of a type A prick - lovely man, but horrible boyfriend (for me, anyway) and he stood back and judged me. Shaking his head every time I either made a mistake or had to try again. HE DID NOT HELP.
But I survived! HA!
Posted by: red at October 21, 2007 2:44 PMCar? Wha? I go away for a few days and you join the 21st century? :)
Posted by: Mr. Lion at October 21, 2007 9:36 PMLion - HAHAHAHAHA I know, will wonders never cease?? I'm sorry I haven't been around and that I missed you and Mike Hendrix last weekend - I've been nuts with getting a car and all. Please let me know the next time he comes to town!
In the meantime: ta da!!!
Posted by: red at October 21, 2007 9:42 PMLet me know when you're ready for a supercharger and some go fast lessons. ;)
Posted by: Mr. Lion at October 21, 2007 10:01 PMYeah? So? How can an idiot box [i]possibly[/i] compare to a car?
If you doth protest the point, you need a ride in one of mine.
Posted by: Mr. Lion at October 22, 2007 12:36 PMArg. And those would be correct italic tags, were I not half out of my mind on flu-B-gone happy pills.
Posted by: Mr. Lion at October 22, 2007 12:37 PMLisa - bwahahahahahahahaha I always do everything ass-backwards. iPod before car. No TV. I don't know what my problem is!!
Posted by: red at October 22, 2007 12:39 PMAlso - the new Project Runway starts in less than a month. And I have no television. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
Posted by: red at October 22, 2007 12:48 PMI think you may remember this.....but every time I leave my car, I check for my keys exactly 6 times.
YOU HAVE A CAR!
Posted by: Alex at October 22, 2007 2:54 PMi've had a theme song for every car i've ever owned. this car's song is 'lost again' by the dance hall crashers. my first car was a 1980 plymouth volare: 'boat of car' by they might be giants. in between were 'driving in my car' by madness and... shoot, i don't remember the last one! anyway, maybe picking a theme song will give it more of an identity for you, thereby enhancing your relationship. just a suggestion.
Posted by: stevie at October 22, 2007 7:22 PMI like the idea!! The first thing that came to mind is lenny kravitz's 'fields of joy' - the most purely happy song i know.
Posted by: red at October 22, 2007 8:02 PM