My husband likes cars. Okay, scratch that. My husband is OBSESSED with cars. He has been since I met him way back in 1980-something, and the passion has only grown as he has gotten older. A couple of years back, he was invited to a track day at VIR, a raceway about an hour or so from here. With one drive, he was even more hooked. Now, he watches Top Gear with religious fervor, subscribes to Motor Trend, and has entirely too many cars, at least in my opinion, parked in our yard, all in various states of functioning and repair.
Me, I’m not like that. I grew up in a family that drove to get places, not really caring how they looked or how long it took to get there. My parents love Hondas, so I love Hondas. They also drive their cars into the ground, pretty much ignoring dents and scratches as long as everything’s in working order. This is the reason why, when I bought a new car when I was pregnant a few years back and hit a deer, I wasn’t thinking I’d pay for a bunch of body work to fix the dents. The doors still opened, the car ran: what’s the big deal? My husband was AGHAST. He notices every little ding, every tiny scratch. If it wasn’t for him, I never would have noticed someone had stolen those little thingamajigs that are in the center of the wheel, decorated with an H, off one of my Hondas. I don’t even know what they’re called, so how would I miss them? I mean, come on.
Lately, though, when we’ve taken family trips. we have realized that my lovely little Acura, my Baby Car, had gotten too small for us. This was especially clear on the last beach trip when, once we had packed everything in, I could barely SEE my daughter in her car seat she was so surrounded by towels and groceries and bags. Okay, fine, I thought. I love my Acura, I’ll just get trade up to a bigger Acura. But then my husband said those three little words: “Let’s just look around.”
You can NEVER just look at a car with someone who lives and breathes automobiles. It’s impossible. To his credit, he did go to the Acura dealership with me, and tried to hold his tongue while we checked out cargo space and compared trunk size. Then, though, all casual, he suggested we go across the street to the Audi dealership. Also known as His Favorite Place Ever Where He Knows All the Salespeople By Name. Cut to me, an hour later, test driving a used Audi. The trunk is big, the cargo space huge. It’s bigger than what I am used to, but I can still park it easily and I don’t feel like I’m driving a tank. He kept saying, “It’s not up to me! Your decision!” and while I know it was killing him, I said I had to think about it. We walked out, back to my Acura. And then I turned and looked back at the car.
I hate it when he is right.
So yes, I have a new (or, new to me) car, just in time for my 40th birthday. It is my midlife crisis car, I have decided. At least I didn’t get plastic surgery or have an affair. (Although my passion for my iPhone is such that if it WAS a person, my marriage would be in trouble. I love it almost as much as Tim Riggins, and that is saying something). My husband, for his part, just keeps shrugging, telling everyone, “She decided she wanted it. It wasn’t me at all,” which is technically true. But we both know the real story, as much as we know that he will suddenly have a lot more interest in taking my car to the grocery store than he used to. Marriage. You gotta love it.
In other news, awhile back I mentioned that I was honored to be asked to sit on a judging panel for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. I read the three finalists over my vacation, and today my thoughts, and those of the other judges, were posted online. You can check them out here. I have to say I really enjoyed being a part of this, and all three of the finalists were really good. I’m very curious to see how the public votes! Stay tuned….
Have a good day, everyone!
src="http://server3.web-stat.com/2/al4159.gif"/>
Haha… I know a guy that has a million cars…
Our husband’s may be brothers from different mothers. We purchased a (new to us)car before Christmas. He has already decided that because of his work (as a welder) he can’t dirty the car and needs a truck for himself.
The car will be mine. I’m fine with it, but my husband keeps talking about body kits and fixing the scratches and stuff that I really don’t care or understand.
I always feel bad when he says, “remember?” and I really don’t remember what he said he was going to spend our money on because it was for the car and I was/am still lost.
I’m happy with my scratched car with the dent on the trunk. I mean, it’s used anyway. It’s not suppose to be new. We brought it because we liked it just the way it was.
All I’m saying is, I get you.
Aww.. in my opinion, Acura beats Audi in durability, and cost to repair. My friend with an Audi calls it his “Owie” because it has cost him so much. Was your husbands expierence with Audis different?
But congrats on a new car!
Ummm…
Um Sarah, that’s four words. Haha.
Well I hope you enjoy the car!
xx,
~Abby~
Audis are so cool, I am a little jealous of you. Enjoy your new car! and happy early birthday! love ya!
Congratulations on the new used car Sarah.
Sounds like you are loving it. 
Hi Sarah! I read your blog all the time. Congrats on your new car! Audis are so nice. I’m with you though, I don’t know a Toyota from a Ford from an Acura, etc. If it has wheels and gets me places, I’m good. Anyway, I was reading a friends note on facebook entitled “Five Best Days of My Life”. Basically, it was a list of the five best days he’d ever had. It got me thinking about mine too- I was actually hard pressed to come up with five. I was wondering, what your five are? Maybe you could do a Friday Five about it or something!! Just something to think about!
While I know absolutely nothing about cars, I’ll admit, I’d like an Audi over an Acura, just because they do look nice.
Hope to see you judging for next years ABNA contest, it was my first time entering this year, but I only made it past the Pitch stage. There’s always next year right? But, it WAS you that inspired me to write my first novel. Thanks for all your great books!
Cars-Hybrid! Go Green!
Aww Sarah you should have gotten a Hybrid! Yes, they’re more expensive initially but you make up the price in gas VERY quickly!
Congrats on the new car!!! I also want to know what you though of Glee? You normally comment on it and this week was amazing!!!
Just wanted to let you know that ABCfamily is rumored to be airing FNL in the fall!
Haha! My dad is a car fanatic. He still has his first car from high school. (He is 49 years old.) The car has a total of 60,000 original miles and is in mint condition. It’s a Ford Elite. Then he has a ’66 and a ’73 Ford Thunderbird. This is also not mentioning a grain truck he has bought for a “rat-rod”, the various antique tractors, the chopper he has built and his “luxury” bike. Boys and their toys. Our house has looked like a used car lot for the majority of my 20 years of life. (The only cool thing is, is I get to drive them occasionally!)
4 little words? Haha.
But my father is OBSESSED with Audis. He got a customized one sent from Germany or something a few years back and insisted on getting a used A4 for my brother and I to share as a family car (I wanted to buy my own.. booo).
They are actually pretty nice cars. Good mileage, built well, pretty. You usually have to take it into the dealership whenever any work needs done, which is an absolute fortune Hopefully your husband will be able to do it!
So excited for the book, bu the way! And I’m glad you’re finally getting a restful summer.
fan
HELLO!!!i’m one of your biggest fans! i LOVE your work. you have such a gift that i wish i had! just want you to know that your awesome!
cars
yeah, i dont know squat about cars. my dad is a mechanic but i know nothing. my brother also knows about them, but he’s more obsessed with baseball than cars. me, im no car freak.lol
all i know is that if you get a ford, your in good shape!:)
My dad is also obsessed with cars. I’ve lost count of how many cars he’s had over the years. Recently, like you Sarah he’s gone with Audi and never looked back. It started with A Audi A3 and than with a Audi A4 (used) and than a new Audi A 4 and just traded that in for a Audi Q5 (the smallest of the Audi suvs). So yes I do hear you.