It was the spring of my senior year in high school. I was getting ready
to graduate (a very exciting time!) and had applied and was accepted to
a college in Houma, LA which was a 45 minute drive from my home. Mom
was working as a single mother driving to three different elementary
school as the music teacher. I knew there was no way I would be able to
get to college unless I carpooled.
Thinking back now...there were ways, I'm sure, that I could have done it...but at the time I thought I needed a car.
Dad and I, since he left, hadn't had that great of a relationship. Our
conversations with each other were few and far between and I always
felt that I was the one initiating everything and keeping the
relationship going (I still feel that way). I was so nervous to ask,
but thought, it couldn't hurt any worse than it already is. The worst case scenario is that he will say no to a car. So,
I asked Dad for a car. I explained the situation very clearly and left
it at that. I think I waited a good 3 weeks or so before he called
again after saying he'd "think about it." Those 3 weeks were the
longest 3 weeks ever! The whole time I was thinking that this would be
the end of mine and my Dad's relationship. But...to my surprise, he
pulled through...more than I ever could have expected.
Dad and Carolyn planned to drive down for my graduation. The final
phone call with him left it open to the imagination...he simply said We'll see what we can do when we get there. I
was perfectly fine with that. They stayed in a hotel in town...and
since I didn't see them often anyway, I had no idea what vehicle they
were driving. The night before graduation, Dad took Ben (my brother)
and I out to dinner (while my poor mom stayed home). We had a great
dinner with good conversation about plans and memories and such. The
mention of a car never came up. Finally, I went home and spent the
night before the BIG DAY.
The graduation ceremony was nice...long...and exciting all in one. I
vaguely remember bits and pieces of the ceremony. Afterwards, the rush
to find family members on the lawn and in the lobby was chaotic, to say
the least...but I found Dad and Carolyn standing by their car as if
they were ready to scoot on out of town. What came next, no one could
have prepared me for! Dad gave me a hug and told me he was proud of me.
I hugged Carolyn too. Then, he handed me the keys. I looked down at the
keys, and then back at him, confused. He said...It's yours. I grinned...and probably started jumping up and down...I don't really remember, but he said take it for a spin. So, there I stood...with my new car... (a toyota camry, 2 door, with a cd player and a sunroof) thinking I'm in total heaven.
To this day, I still have that car. It has been through one wreck (not
my fault), and a hit deer (not one, but two deer running side by
side)...but still runs perfectly fine. The new leather smell has long
gone, and the door handles are a sight to see, but I still consider it
my "new" car (1998-present).
to graduate (a very exciting time!) and had applied and was accepted to
a college in Houma, LA which was a 45 minute drive from my home. Mom
was working as a single mother driving to three different elementary
school as the music teacher. I knew there was no way I would be able to
get to college unless I carpooled.
Thinking back now...there were ways, I'm sure, that I could have done it...but at the time I thought I needed a car.
Dad and I, since he left, hadn't had that great of a relationship. Our
conversations with each other were few and far between and I always
felt that I was the one initiating everything and keeping the
relationship going (I still feel that way). I was so nervous to ask,
but thought, it couldn't hurt any worse than it already is. The worst case scenario is that he will say no to a car. So,
I asked Dad for a car. I explained the situation very clearly and left
it at that. I think I waited a good 3 weeks or so before he called
again after saying he'd "think about it." Those 3 weeks were the
longest 3 weeks ever! The whole time I was thinking that this would be
the end of mine and my Dad's relationship. But...to my surprise, he
pulled through...more than I ever could have expected.
Dad and Carolyn planned to drive down for my graduation. The final
phone call with him left it open to the imagination...he simply said We'll see what we can do when we get there. I
was perfectly fine with that. They stayed in a hotel in town...and
since I didn't see them often anyway, I had no idea what vehicle they
were driving. The night before graduation, Dad took Ben (my brother)
and I out to dinner (while my poor mom stayed home). We had a great
dinner with good conversation about plans and memories and such. The
mention of a car never came up. Finally, I went home and spent the
night before the BIG DAY.
The graduation ceremony was nice...long...and exciting all in one. I
vaguely remember bits and pieces of the ceremony. Afterwards, the rush
to find family members on the lawn and in the lobby was chaotic, to say
the least...but I found Dad and Carolyn standing by their car as if
they were ready to scoot on out of town. What came next, no one could
have prepared me for! Dad gave me a hug and told me he was proud of me.
I hugged Carolyn too. Then, he handed me the keys. I looked down at the
keys, and then back at him, confused. He said...It's yours. I grinned...and probably started jumping up and down...I don't really remember, but he said take it for a spin. So, there I stood...with my new car... (a toyota camry, 2 door, with a cd player and a sunroof) thinking I'm in total heaven.
To this day, I still have that car. It has been through one wreck (not
my fault), and a hit deer (not one, but two deer running side by
side)...but still runs perfectly fine. The new leather smell has long
gone, and the door handles are a sight to see, but I still consider it
my "new" car (1998-present).
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