New (Old) Things

There have been some exciting new things showing up around here lately.

For starters, Grandma Baer gave us Austin’s old mobile from when he was a baby. I had been resisting mobiles because most of them are plastic, flashy, and make terrible mind-numbing noises–but this one is wooden, quiet, and very aesthetically pleasing. Most importantly, Waylon thinks it’s the shiz. He will grin and coo at that hippopotamus for 15 minutes! That may not sound like a long time to you, but it is to me. Today I actually brushed my hair. Winning!

Baby is not the only one with a new toy. This weekend Austin surprised me with a new (old) car!

Pause For The Very Boring History of My Driving Life:

First there was the ’93 Mercury Sable. I got it when I passed my driver’s test and drove it like a bat outta hell. Whose idea was it to let 16 year olds drive?? I totaled it a few months later after hitting a patch of black ice on the way to school. It was a sad day.

It looked something like this.

My dad graciously replaced the Sable with an 1989 Volvo station wagon. I called it “the hearse.” It was pretty awesome.

After that car (not surprisingly) kicked the bucket, I drove my parents’ vehicles around until I went to college and didn’t need one.

A few years later, after a lot of begging and pleading and ridiculous drama on my part, the guy I was engaged to at the time bought me a 99′ Acura Integra so that I could be more “independent” (a whole other story).

It was red and had a sunroof and made me feel like a million bucks.

Seven years, three dents, and some major paint chipping later and I’m beginning to feel a little like a white trash mama in a beater car.

Cosmetic issues aside, it’s also just too dang small. My head touches the ceiling and the carseat barely fits in the backseat. Not only that, it’s terribly unsafe in rain, much less snow, and so low to the ground it feels like you’re drag racing. Oh–and the window is broken…(and so on and so on).

So we got a Forrester. A 1999 black Subaru Forrester to be exact. I love it. Bigger, safer, and in excellent condition. Compared to the Acura, I feel like the coolest mom on the block.

You may be wondering (but probably would never ask)– where the heck did you get the money for this? Aren’t you destitute and living off medical school loans?

Good question.

It was 5,000 dollars. We borrowed it from family. The End.

Dad: Are you now considered an official flaming liberal?

Me: Absolutely.

Waylon couldn’t be more pleased.

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