What Do I know About Cars?

I know that car behind the grandson is red. I know my car is a red Dodge Journey, and my husband calls it a grocery-getter. I traded a gunmetal grey Chevy Traverse for it. In other words, I can tell you what color cars are when I see them and not much else.

I can tell a convertible when I see one with the top down. Probably couldn't tell you if the top is up that it is a convertible. I know the difference between a pickup and a car.

I have driven an 18-wheeler but never learned much more about them than color. I know the difference between a car and a motorcycle. I love my motorcycle, even though it is not a Harley Davidson. I rode a BSA first, then a Suzuki 600, a Suzuki Volusia 800 and now I ride a Yamaha V-star 1300.

My husband would not let me buy a Harley when I first bought a bike. He said, "If you are going to ride with me, you won't be getting a Harley, as I like to ride, I don't like to fix."

He told me to watch the bikes on the side of the rode. At the time he was right. We both believe Harley has gotten better, even though he would come home from work, telling me about whose transmission or motor went out and it was always a Harley.

Then we rented Harleys on a trip one time. I didn't like the seat and it sounded like a bolt fell off the bike as it was rattling. Not comfortable. I haven't had any trouble with mine, although I don't put that many miles on them anymore, most summers 400-500 miles.

We talk about downsizing as my husband rides a 1900 Yamaha and he is in his 70s. I am still in my 60s. I said I could get a sidecar and he can ride in that. It's a joke as I will probably be ready for the sidecar before him.

When I was a young girl, my mother used to teach people, especially women how to drive. My mother started teaching older women that didn't have a license yet as their husbands had done all the driving. That was really common at one time.

She told me not too far from when she died that out of all the people she taught to drive, the only one that didn't get her license was my brothers' wife and she never understood why. As part of the teaching, she also taught some of us how to drive years before we could get a license.

I was as young as 12 when I started to drive. I know as the oldest child with five siblings, she would have me drive everywhere, once I had learned to drive to her satisfaction.

When my daughter was driving, thanks to grandma, she went with her to New Mexico and drove through all the big city traffic when she was 15 or younger. I, of course, didn't know that until they got back.

When mom was teaching one of my older cousins, I remember my cousin would close her eyes when driving across a bridge and she would pull over when a semi-truck would be coming from the opposite direction. Driving then was scary as we had no seat belts and it could get dangerous at times.

My niece was learning and mom batted a bee in her direction and her hands came off the steering wheel and we almost hit the ditch. And we were driving mostly my mothers old "jalopy" is what she called her car.

Some people would call it a rez car, while still others called it a grocery getter. Any way you look at it, it was not a prize to drive.

My daughter really learned to drive on bumper cars. She could avoid being hit by anyone. She loves cars and knows what many are. A couple of her sons have the same interest. So they don't always see the color of the car, but they see the car.

The grandson above said, he likes the car above and thought it was a Mazda rx8. His mother said, why didn't he look at the back, as you can tell that way. He said, he liked the Miata but didn't think that is one. She said, "no, I don't think so either."

When I asked what his favorite car is, he said there are so many cars I like but I have to say, it is probably the Porsche 911. It was a beautiful day today and I totally understand why the top was down.

Up north, we just don't see all the variety of vehicles that we see in White Bear Lake, where my son is living. It is kind of fun to just drive around looking at cars, with someone who knows cars and not just colors.