I have vague memories of my birth-father working on his cars when I was very small. He also had a bad habit of buying a new car every year, trading in last year's toy. I remember him buying my mother a mid-70s Plymouth Duster, which she drag-raced down Bell Road when our neighbor challenged her by telling her she couldn't handle a car that quick - she won, by the way, and is more likely the source of any competitiveness in my nature. The Duster was quickly replaced with a '78 Mazda GLC (Great Little Car, though we called it "Glick"), which mom managed to hang on to for over ten years and probably spawned my ardent life-long love of Mazdas.
When that GLC died, I begged my mother and step-father to let me rebuild it. They thought rebuilding a car was a "pipe dream" and the car went to the junkyard. I was heartbroken. Ever since, my dream has been to rebuild a car. My theory has always been that I'm at least as smart as the guys who put the car together, I just lacked little things like a garage, tools, skill and experience.
Optimism, thy name is Carlota.
I now have a car shell, an engine, a radiator, and other extraneous parts to put together... but still no garage, tools, skill or experience. I must constantly remind myself that of all the childhood dreams a person can have, this one can be achieved with relative ease. At the moment, it is only patience and proper circumstance that I lack.
It can be so frustrating to know what you want and have it just outside of your reach. I cannot blame California, but there are moments when I feel I have given up more to be here than I have gotten in return, or all that stands between me and the rest of my life is the fact that I am here at all. In many ways, I'm just a little girl from Alabama trying to make good on some little girl dreams. And then I remember: One of those little Alabama girl dreams was to live in California.
So...one dream attained. I have room for bigger dreams now. Maybe even in California.
When that GLC died, I begged my mother and step-father to let me rebuild it. They thought rebuilding a car was a "pipe dream" and the car went to the junkyard. I was heartbroken. Ever since, my dream has been to rebuild a car. My theory has always been that I'm at least as smart as the guys who put the car together, I just lacked little things like a garage, tools, skill and experience.
Optimism, thy name is Carlota.
I now have a car shell, an engine, a radiator, and other extraneous parts to put together... but still no garage, tools, skill or experience. I must constantly remind myself that of all the childhood dreams a person can have, this one can be achieved with relative ease. At the moment, it is only patience and proper circumstance that I lack.
It can be so frustrating to know what you want and have it just outside of your reach. I cannot blame California, but there are moments when I feel I have given up more to be here than I have gotten in return, or all that stands between me and the rest of my life is the fact that I am here at all. In many ways, I'm just a little girl from Alabama trying to make good on some little girl dreams. And then I remember: One of those little Alabama girl dreams was to live in California.
So...one dream attained. I have room for bigger dreams now. Maybe even in California.
