Sherrell
05-05-2011, 09:35 PM
So tonight was a wonderful brisk spring evening in east Tennessee. My wife calls me at work to ask if I can leave early (that's 5pm for me) so we can take the roadster out for dinner and a drive. (What a wife!!!!!!!)
First encounter is at a stoplight when up pulls a Caddie Escalade. Rear passenger window drops, and out pops the beaming face of a 4-yr old boy who is grinning ear-to-ear and waving frantically.
Next encounter: driving down the expressway. Up beside us pulls an Generiamobile with two teenage blonde girls. All windows down, BOTH are smiling from ear-to-ear and taking pictures. They look a bit crestfallen when they see my wife.
Then: Time for petro. We pull into a local racing fuel (110 octane) depot. A drop-top Mini-Cooper is in the next stall, being tenderly cared for by a couple in their 40's. I nod to the lady and say, "I like your car." She responds, "I REALLLLLY like your car." Her male companion looks a bit unhappy.
Finally, dinner. As we're finishing, in walks a 60-yr old friend of mine who knew about my car but had never seen it. He saw it in the parking lot and came in to find me. We walk out together. My friend owns FIVE ORIGINAL Minis and was driving a beautifully-restored example. We get into the roadster and pull up beside of him in the parking lot. He says, "What a gorgeous car! I'm depressed. I've wanted to build one for ten years."
What an amazing car!
It lifts the spirit, stirs the soul, and puts a smile on the face of 4-yr old boys, teenage hotties, middle age matrons, and old geezers.
A dream come true.
And the VERY BEST part? Sharing it all with the girl I married 36 years ago!
First encounter is at a stoplight when up pulls a Caddie Escalade. Rear passenger window drops, and out pops the beaming face of a 4-yr old boy who is grinning ear-to-ear and waving frantically.
Next encounter: driving down the expressway. Up beside us pulls an Generiamobile with two teenage blonde girls. All windows down, BOTH are smiling from ear-to-ear and taking pictures. They look a bit crestfallen when they see my wife.
Then: Time for petro. We pull into a local racing fuel (110 octane) depot. A drop-top Mini-Cooper is in the next stall, being tenderly cared for by a couple in their 40's. I nod to the lady and say, "I like your car." She responds, "I REALLLLLY like your car." Her male companion looks a bit unhappy.
Finally, dinner. As we're finishing, in walks a 60-yr old friend of mine who knew about my car but had never seen it. He saw it in the parking lot and came in to find me. We walk out together. My friend owns FIVE ORIGINAL Minis and was driving a beautifully-restored example. We get into the roadster and pull up beside of him in the parking lot. He says, "What a gorgeous car! I'm depressed. I've wanted to build one for ten years."
What an amazing car!
It lifts the spirit, stirs the soul, and puts a smile on the face of 4-yr old boys, teenage hotties, middle age matrons, and old geezers.
A dream come true.
And the VERY BEST part? Sharing it all with the girl I married 36 years ago!