Several years ago, my sister gave me a copy of Life's Little Instruction Book. Great little book with "suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy & rewarding life".
Suggestion #32: ONCE IN YOUR LIFE OWN A CONVERTIBLE.
I couldn't agree more! I've own a Miata for the past 10 years; a metallic blue one and this red one. Love this little car! So many cool memories.
Call me crazy, but I'm the girl that has the top down regardless of the weather. I remember those cool and sometimes downright cold days/nights I'd crank up the heater, put a jacket on and put the top down. Sure I froze a bit but there is nothing like feeling the brisk air against your face and the feeling you're part of nature. Especially loved my drive home when I lived in the Hudson Valley region. Driving a convertible on Storm King Mt. is exhilarating. Lots of fun sharp curves...perfect for the "wanna be race car driver"... ME! LOL!
One year on my birthday, I was driving home from work and it was raining pretty hard. But by the time I got to Storm King Mt. it was SNOWING! The back end of the Miata was fishtailing all over the place. Scary...I didn't think my car was going to make it up Storm King. I prayed and thought about how I really wanted to live to see my next birthday. Thank goodness, I arrived home safely but I did learn my lesson... starting in November the Miata went into hibernation.
During the Spring, my Miata & I reunited. The rainy season never deterred me from putting the top down. As long as it's not a torrential rainstorm, the rain actually bounces off the windshield and you really don't get wet. A couple of years ago my friend Giovanna & I were driving home from a 4th of July celebration and it started to rain. When she asked if I was going to pull over to put the top down I explained that we wouldn't get wet. Of course she thought I was crazy but I was right. I'm sure we looked like crazy girls riding with the top down, windshield wipers on high while singing ABC's "Poison Arrow" & Spandau Ballet's "True"! Fun, fun girls night out!
On those crazy hot humid summer days where you couldn't possibly imagine being outside, I'd put the top down, put the AC on high and enjoy the hot sun on my skin. I remember sometimes I'd leave the house with my hair wet and let it dry while I ran errands or drove to work. One cool summer night in particular, I was coming home from a Marc Anthony concert and I put the top down. The entire way home I sang songs at the top of my lungs, enjoyed the emptiness of the roads while the moon shone so brightly it could have guided me home.
So many fun, peaceful, and memorable drives.
Last night I had to say goodbye to this sweeeet car. Even though I would have loved to ship the Miata to Belgium I knew it wasn't the best idea. With car repairs being an unknown, outrageous car insurance rates, and the hassle of overseas shipping I knew it was best to just let it go.
Today the sun was so bright it was begging for a drive in a convertible. I'm brokenhearted. I already miss my car. All I could do was close my eyes and imagine me & my little Miata racing along beautiful stretches of road while the wind blows my curls around my face.
Thanks about these shared and nice memories! I've dreaming about to have my own miata. There is no other arguments but feeling. I live in Finland where half of the year is winter with ice and snow, that kind of cars are really expensive, not too much money, it is not a familycar... But the feeling. What else could I do? And I quess that you will get an another Miata soon...
Posted by: Erno | 01 August 2006 at 18:39