Page 26 - Carol LeBeau

Bitchin’ & Moaning

Summertime in San Diego
By Judith A. Habert

The time has come once again to admit that my kids are to my mother, who turned to him and said, “Honey, did you
getting older and another milestone must occur: My number get it all?” “Of course”, he responded, “and thank God they
two child needs a car. Starting college in September means had red!” I was quite perplexed by now and calmly asked
many things, primarily that she no longer needs me to drive Dad, “What’s in the bag?” “Necessities” he mumbled. And
her to high school with her brother every morning. Hurrah I that was all he said. I simply sighed and sat back in my seat
thought, no more fighting over who was making who late, or knowing that when my parents got like this there was no
intentional slowness in getting ready to get even when one of cracking through the barrier. When we arrived home, mom
the two had a later start. Then I realized what this meant- an- went directly into the kitchen picked up the phone and dialed.
other car in the house. This meant another one to pay for, to When I came back into the kitchen Mom was just hanging up
deal with repairs on, and to the phone promising to
try and find a place to park. be there in 15 minutes.
But life must move on, so “Where are you going,” I
now the headache of picking asked, “don’t you want to
out the car was upon us. take a ride with me in my
Of course this meant trying new car?” “We are going
to please an 18 year olds in your new car” she said.
desire to have a cool car, “We are all going in your
versus the parent’s need to car.” She handed me my
purchase a safe, reliable, jacket and said, “Let’s
and inexpensive vehicle. go, or we’ll be late” “Late
Unfortunately, these two for what?” I questioned,
points of view rarely end in noticing that Dad was
the same choice. We did nowhere to be found.
26 it. She wasn’t happy, but When we got downstairs
she was safe and I tried to to the car I understood
explain that your first car why. Dad was attending
is rarely your dream car. to necessities: He had
This gives you a legitimate tied a big red bow around
reason to get a good job the rearview mirror,
so you can one day afford placed a Saint Christo-
that car of your dreams. Of pher medal prominently
course as any good mother, on the front of the glove
when she started to bitch compartment and was in
and moan about the car we the process of throwing
had bought her that wasn’t change into the backseat
perfect I had to share my of the car. It was at that
experience when I got my moment I realized where
first car. It happened when we were headed. The
I turned 17 mom and dad managed to gather up what small integral element in the preparation of the car was the bless-
savings they had to buy my first car. It was yellow (and I ing. We were on our way to St. Michael’s church to have
can’t tell you how much I hate yellow), but getting a car far Father Sullivan bless my car. And bless it he did. Father
outweighed the putrid color it was in. I was an independent Sullivan exited the church office, bible and holy water in
free spirit now, I could drive. The car owner lived way out hand, and said a few words in Latin, sprinkled the car with
on Long Island and Mom and Dad did not feel comfortable holy water, made the sign of the cross and smiled letting us
letting me drive it home, so there I sat in the backseat of know it was now safe to get back into our new vehicle. Mom
my new car. I was dying to get behind the wheel, but as and Dad finally let me drive it. At the end of my story my
mom said, “What are you thinking? You can’t drive the car, daughter looked up at me with that quizzical look wondering
it hasn’t been blessed.” I looked at her and said “It has to what my point was. I just looked over at her and said…you
be blessed? Who made that rule?” My mother looked at me better be happy with your car or I will buy that red bow, the
very calmly, even though I know she was getting angry, and Saint Christopher medal, and we can take a ride to go get
as calm as can be she uttered the one word answer, “God.” it blessed. She grabbed the keys from my hand and never
When we were a few miles from home Dad made a stop uttered another word of discontent. See, those old stories do
and told us to wait in the car. In about fifteen minutes he come in handy sometimes.
showed back up with a brown bag in his arms and handed it
Sep/Oct2008