MadMup.com

Tomorrow is, at least for the foreseeable future, the last day I'll be driving a minivan.

It's weird to say that out loud.

...for two reasons:

1) Why am I saying things out loud that I'm typing for my blog? I wish I had an answer for you, but the truth of the matter is, sometimes I say things out loud that I type. You've known me long enough now to not be surprised by this.

2) I've driven a minivan for a long time. Seven years or more.

The first time I ever drove one I really liked how it was bigger than a car (and therefore less claustrophobic) but still drove like a car. So the next time I needed a car, that's what I got. It came in very handy and hauled a lot of people.

When that one was on its last legs, I bought another minivan, off eBay, even. It was a good van at a good price, and I liked it at first. After a while, though, I noticed that it was bigger than the last van by a foot or two, making it even more difficult to park and maneuver. It also wasn't hauling around as many people. I only ever filled it to capacity (7) with people three times. I hauled a lot of stuff in it - turns out having a friend with a minivan that has removable seats is almost as good as having a friend with a pickup truck, if you're the sort of person who needs to move things.

It's been a good van, I just... well, I think I'm done with minivans. I like that I don't feel closed in and I like that I don't have to reach up to drive-thru windows, but other than that, I think I can move on.

Still, it's weird.

So, what will I be driving? I'm not sure yet. I'm going up to Wisconsin this weekend for my dad's 60th birthday and I"m leaving the van with him. He sold it to the daughter of someone he used to work with and started looking for something I could drive back home. When I talked to him earlier he said he'd bought a car, but it wouldn't be ready for me to drive home this weekend.

See, my dad's a mechanic, so pretty much every car I've ever driven is one he's gotten a good price because it "needed work." Some people are nervous about this partuicular method of buying and driving cars, but my dad's a really good mechanic. It's worked out really well. So this car "needs work."

In the meantime, it sounds like I'll be driving Mom's Cadillac. I will be totally stylin'. Oh, yes, I will be stylin' indeed.

I've never worried too much about driving a "cool" car, I guess. The car I'd buy right now this very moment if money were no object? A Pontiac Vibe. In fact, I was leaning in that direction for a good while until I decided it might be better for me to pay off some bills with the money I wouldn't be spending on a car payment. But, as you can see, my taste in cars isn't really driven by coolness - I drive like I dress: comfort over style.

So, goodbye, van. You've been good. But starting this weekend, I'll have to figure out some other way to help people move stuff.