It was the last thing I was expecting today, but well overdue.
You see, I’ve been driving the same car now for EIGHT years. And it’s been a lovely car.I wasn’t complaining. A simple Audi A4 sedan in a pale sparkly colour called champagne. Colour, as we know, is one of the most IMPORTANT things about a car.
BUt last weekend, I got a SIGN. You know, when something happens after a long string of things, and you know a certain relationship has to come to an end. I had driven Ronnie to the local video shop and was parking when I heard a loud CRUNCH. Yep, the concrete parking stopper on the ground had a bout of fisticuffs with my bumper bar and this was the result…
Ooops…
The bumper bar lay on the gravel and there was no way I could piece it back together. Another bill to pay and another job to add to a long list… Big bummer. Big sigh.
But Fletch had been making noises about the end of January being a good time to buy a new car. When I say ‘new’, I mean ‘new’ for us, but second-hand as far as cars go. I hadn’t taken much notice as I thought he was primarily talking about a machine for himself, so I did that nodding thing in the kitchen where the man thinks you’re listening while you dawdle over the stove, pondering your next fantasy holiday in the Greek Islands and only taking half in.
Turns out I had been included in the conversation I hadn’t been listening to. So this morning, I made school lunches and got the kids off to school, went to the gym, then managed a marathon supermarket shop before racing home to work on blogging duties and a certain project with a deadline. So when Fletch called to suggest I meet him in West Melbourne to look at second-hand cars, I wasn’t too excited. I was busy. I thought we’d be looking at cars HE wanted for himself. He mentioned a couple I might be interested in, but I didn’t think it was something we could afford or that they would appeal. But I agreed to join him – just in case. Still not thinking this was a serious shopping mission, I spent more time on the computer than I should have, then realised I had to leave home damn quickly or I’d be late. There was no time to change clothes. I’d have to front up in my old gym gear and no make-up. Never mind, I thought, it’s not about me – who cares what I look like?
And that’s when you should ALWAYS turn around, go back inside and get changed.
Audi Showroom, West Melbourne
