My Mother the Car

From reading my last blog, - that's a huge assumption - you might have gathered that I sort of anthropomorphize our family's vehicles. They become a part of the family. Why? Oh, probably for some deep, troubling, psychological reason. Or maybe because it's fun to do so. Anyway, this made me think of a really strange sitcom from the mid sixties, My Mother the Car. In a nut shell, the lead character's mother is reincarnated as a classic jalopy. Awful, awful show and more awful that the writers cast the deceased mother as an old jalopy. Classic or otherwise.

So then I started thinking how would I want to be cast?

Now we're talkin. An El Camino! Part classic car, part truck. A mullet vehicle.  Business up front and party in the back. A little bit county, a little bit rock 'n roll.  A truck for short people like me.

And just think how useful I would be for Goodwill hunting.

Goldie Honda

My husband and I dislike buying cars. So when we need to buy a vehicle, we want it to last a long, long time. In our thinking a car or truck that has 200,000 miles on it is just getting warmed up.  If it can't easily surpass that milestone, well, it's not worth purchasing.  As long as it's still running safely, we can't see any reason to get rid of it for something shiny and new (and expensive). 

These enduring family vehicles represent so many memories. Take Goldie Honda, for example. Purchased new in 1995, Goldie has over 400,000 miles on the original engine. Our daughter was 7, our son was 9 when we drove it off the lot. They are now 25 and 27. There are specific dents along with a loose front bumper - remnants of our teenagers' first driving experiences.  For five years our daughter drove it and then relinquished it two years ago when she decided to purchase her first vehicle: a Honda Civic. We took it back into our care once again and it faithfully "carries" my husband back and forth to work. Of course Goldie has an understood "DNR" order in that if there is a major mechanical failure, we will no longer pay large sums of money to keep her running.

Someone once told us that the most economical car to drive is the one that's already paid in full and parked in your garage. Eighteen years. I think we got our money's worth.

Selling Lemonade

We've all experienced those curveballs that life throws our way.  And when they occur, we are to find the silver lining...you know, the whole "make lemonade out of lemons" metaphor. Well, my most recent curveball happened last August when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. (For people my age this diabetes is referred to as LADA.) My most noticeable symptom was unexplained weight loss.  Twenty-two pounds worth in about 2 months. I melted out of of my wardrobe. Not having hundreds of dollars at my disposal to buy all new clothes, I did what I do best - shopped for bargains and hit the thrift stores and consignment shops. I was able to outfit myself throughout the fall and winter for very little money. This need has made me an even savvier thrifter. I guess I was beginning to make "lemonade."

So now it's time to store the winter clothes and unpack the spring and summer wardrobe. Except I discover that last summer's clothes are useless to me.  Nothing fits. Sooooo I decided to consign these useless items and turn them into a bit of extra cash.

I like making lemonade, but I like selling lemonade even more.

Chicken Whatever

Except for baking, I don't have much use for recipes. Especially recipes that involve chicken. Cut it up and stir fry with whatever veggies are on hand. Braise it on the stove top - make a pan sauce with some wine or chicken stock or beer or sour cream or whatever is in the fridge. Coat it with something crunchy and bake it in the oven. Smother it in pasta sauce and cheese and bake it in the oven.

Who needs recipes?

"What's for dinner?" my beloved husband asks. "Chicken Whatever,"
I reply.  He knows exactly what that means. I'm freestyling dinner because I don't have a clue. But it does involve chicken.

If I really need inspiration, if I'm stuck in the Chicken Whatever rut, I can always count on Pinterest to inspire and overwhelm me.

But really, it's chicken. Whatever.

Goodwill Hunting

Not the movie, the act of thrifting. The thrill of the hunt to find items that no one else wants and to make use of them once again. For pennies on the dollar. Dave Ramsey would approve of my budget-stretching measures.

Back in the day I would scour thrift stores for cream glazed pottery, plates with fruit hand painted on them, or play clothes for my toddlers. I loved old suitcases, too, and could snatch them for a few dollars each.  I would give my little ones a few quarters to buy some books to keep them happy while I searched.

Later on I became the primary shopper of props and costumes for our church's theater group.  I would zero in on vintage clothing, furniture, and household accessories. Finding that black rotary phone or the pink pillbox hat was great sport.  Those were my "trophies" of a successful hunt.

Now my search has expanded to things that my husband and I can rehab or repurpose.  I am the Goodwill hunter and he is the "fixer". Yes, I hate to admit we get excited over  new episodes of American Pickers or Salvage Dawgs...or even Antiques Roadshow.

We love our stuff, but once it loses its newness many are quick to toss it.  Thankfully some choose to donate. That's good for Goodwill and for my Goodwill hunting.