Meaningless, materialistic automotive babble

The truth is slowly surfacing and it isn't easy to come to terms with. No, I'm not talking about the reality of anything profound or major... I'm talking about cars. We need another car.

Now, some families are able (with a lot of hard work, no doubt) to pull off the one-car per household thing. I admire these families. I WISH we could do the same. We've split a car for about a year now (Steve shared his car with me last year before we were married), and during college it worked out fine. We were glued at the hip, and there wasn't any place he was going that I wasn't. Made carpooling easy. But now that we're both in different spheres (I'm in the "work" sphere, he's still in the "school" sphere), it's been more of a challenge.

Once April rolls around though, the complications of our lives with increase. There will (Lord willing, Lord willing, Lord willing) be a baby and a new job for Job. Now, I MIGHT be okay with staying at home in our 400+ square foot apartment, alone with an infant, all day. I'll admit, the romantic in me finds it rather charming to lead a car-less life and take baby for long walks all day and have "adventures." But that romantic bubble will burst shortly, I'm sure. There will be doctor's appointments to make, groceries to buy, and social interactions to be made that will (hopefully) help keep me sane as a new mom.

So, with that, the husband and I have come to a rather defeated conclusion. It is time. To buy. A car. I think we've known that for a while now, but I've just dealt with it by saying, "Let's just pray about it and wait for something to fall into our laps." Then I realize--wait--that's what happened with our current car, and it's not really right of us (or me, moreso) to wait for it to happen again. God has been very good to us; our current car was truly a merciful blessing for which we'll always be thankful. And as much as we appreciate and value our current vehicle, it's time to start finding another one the "old fashioned way."

It won't be pretty. Not just the car-searching process ("I say 'Jetta,' but you say 'Beretta,' I say 'Romeo' and you say 'Geo;' Jetta, Beretta, Romeo, Geo--let's call the whole thing off), but the car will not be pretty either. You see, I come from a long line of "beater connoisseurs."

Growing up, our car situation was never glamorous. During the late 80s, while other four-person families zoomed around comfortably in their new Aerostars, Astros and Caravans, our family of six made an '82 Toyota Corolla our "family" car. We commuted 40+ minutes to church every Sunday in the Georgia heat... my baby brother had the best seat in the car, perched in his cushy, enormous car seat that took up half of the backseat. I envied the cooing and giggling babe, as I wedged my tush uncomfortably between my sisters' feet and the back of the passenger-side seat. Yes, guess who had to sit on the floor of the car?

But once we moved to Oregon, we got a station wagon that was far less easy on the eyes, but admittedly, more spacious. And when the Russo family hit the big time and finally got a minivan, we started going to the "nearby" Orthodox church, which was two hours away. So we finally had our space, but our journeys to church doubled in difficulty (and some people are amazed I drive 30 minutes to church now).

I don't see my car luck changing anytime soon. I'll be sure to post pictures if the car we end up buying makes it into the Russo family "Beater Hall of Fame." Hahaha... Okay I lied, I probably won't post any pictures. I'm horrible about posting photos, and I refuse to give empty promises to my dear readers.

Honestly though, if you happen to know someone who's selling a car that isn't resting on cinderblocks, let me know. Of if you have any words of encouragement regarding vehicles, or even just a funny story from your own life (perhaps you too are from "beater connoisseur" lineage?), I could use a laugh.