And now, a break from spiritual concerns…

… and let us delve in the material. The question on all of our lips lately – should we buy a new car? Well, in any case, I’ve been considering it. And Cedric, by default, is considering it as well. I have a premonition that the Toyota is on her last leg. Cedric is not endowed with the gift of premonition, and will happily drive out of town, immune to my “Is the car alright?” and “What the hell is that noise?” and even occasional “Pull over, dear GOD, we’re all going to die!” I might have a wee phobia.
No doubt, the old girl has served us well. Only one breakdown on the highway in five years. Though that breakdown was in front of a rundown trailer, with seventeen yelping dogs on chains around the periphery. No harm was done, but all the same, we would do well to avoid that situation again.
So then, if we were, possibly potentially maybe going to buy a new car, what kind of car would it be? I see myself in a silver Volkswagon Jetta – which would, no doubt, send the message to all who will hear that I am chic and intellectual. This would work best if I tinted the windows. After that, another silver Corolla could be nice for quality/price rapport, though less chic, and certainly anti-climatic. But alas, now I am a mother, and I don’t know if a silver Jetta really affords enough space for soccer balls and tins full of homemade cookies and all the necessary mother paraphernalia. An SUV is out, totally – I won’t hog the road, I won’t sacrifice gas mileage. A minivan? My own mother suggests I should grow up, buy a utilitarian vehicle, presumably sacrifice the image I’ve spent my life building, and make room for five more grandbabies. But Ma, a minivan? It ain’t right.
So then, what kind of car should we buy? We (I) are (am) reluctantly considering a wagon (requirement: must be shaggin’) as a good compromise. I rather like the new Toyota and Saab wagons. Saab would, of course, cement our reputation as hippie eccentrics and probably socialists. Toyota is more run of the mill, more practical, and perhaps, just perhaps, closer to the truth. I mean, are we eccentric?
One thing is sure: choosing a new car is a lot like choosing a new religion. One does well to consider the social implications involved, as well as user friendliness, and ultimately, the pleasure of the ride.