It's been so wonderful having Frick home from college. Everybody is happy to be a complete family unit again. Even the dogs! I notice that Frick and Frack have a new found love and respect for each other, which is VERY rare and something I do not want to disturb. Part of this new buddy relationship may relate to the fact that they do not have to share a car anymore.
Quick back story: Frick left for college in August of 2012. Frack did not have his driver's licence at that time, so Frick's car sat unused until Frack got his licence in Feb 2013. Said car then became Frack's car, and you know how a boy feels about his first car. When Frick came home on the occasional weekend during the year, it wasn't always smooth negotiations between the two of them for the car. BUT, lucky for us, we have 4 cars, and My Guy and I only need a car each for driving to work and back. Precious evenings out with their friends were salvaged by the parents carpooling at night. Problem temporarily solved right?
Wrong.
Now that we have Frick all to ourselves for the summer, the need for everyone to have their own car has reached a crescendo.Summer jobs, Frack still in school, my job, My Guy's job, we all need our own wheels. So what are we to do? Again, I said we are fortunate enough to have 4 cars. The fourth car is what we will call "the race car", and it's a two seater, five speed. The only one's that can drive a five speed in the family are My Guy and myself. The race car is a a little showy for My Guy to pull up to his office everyday, so guess who has to take one for the team and drive the rag top, race car everyday???
Oh hell YES! It's meee! and I'm loving it!
I have to say, driving a five speed is very freeing, especially when the top is down and the wind is blowing through your hair, but it's a lot of work too. It's definitely not as smooth sailing as an automatic, but who the hell cares? The work out, (I'm definitely getting an arm workout) and the power I am experiencing daily is a complete blast!! Heck, I may never give up this car. If it weren't for the severe winter weather here, one would have a hard time prying the key from my hand later in the year.
Nothing erases the stresses of a long day at work like the ride home, top down, in my race car and I'm taking downshifting to a whole new art form. I'm also feeling like I want my kids to experience this kind of joy, so I'm thinking it's time to teach them.But then again, if I do that, I may never see the race car again.
In fact, they may start fighting over the race car, and then we would be back to square one again.
No, I'm going to wait on Frick and Frack's stick shift lessons until later in the summer and keep on having my own personal fun. Because once I bring them in on the party, I know exactly what will happen.
It will be just like dear old dad taking my T-Bird away.
3 comments:
I, for one, appreciate your sacrifice.
I would wait a bit longer until the end of the summer to get them trained on the race car.
I used to have a 5 speed Integra. While not a rag top, it had plenty of go. Driving a stick shift always made me feel more connected. Like I was really "driving" not merely "piloting" the car.
Funny - being a Brit we almost exclusively all drive "stick shift" - or manual as we call them. Automatics have never been the most popular over here.
My boring diesel, yes almost half of us drive diesels over here too - due mostly the cost of fuel which whilst diesel is dearer since I get about 55mph from my large estate car (station wagon) it still makes sense, actually has a 6 speed manual box, that is not uncommon on many European cars now, indeed I've driven a 7 speed coupé which was almost a moment of middle aged madness until I realised I'd need another car to carry all the gear in!
Anyway - you live it up - put the stereo on LOUD and make the whole world look jealously at you :-)
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