I Have a Car

Since returning from Mexico in 2003, I didn't have a car. I moved to San Francisco where a car is actually a burden. And the City!!! You can walk from one neighborhood to the next, or take a bus/Muni/Bart wherever. For those weekend visits down to Los Gatos, or up to Humboldt County, my friend Wayne at Dollar Rent a Car always set me up.

San Diego is a different story. I live downtown and my school (I am center director of an English Language Institute) is up the street. OK, I can walk to Borders, to the Gaslamp, to great cafes, and to the marina walkway. And yes, there is bus 901 for that 45 minute journey to Coronado.
So it is rent a car even to go to the doctor! Thank goodness CVS Pharmacy has food for when I am too tired after work to walk to the supermarket to buy what I can carry.

And my new passion, drumming....well my djembe is quite heavy, and I taxi or bus to Balboa Park (fantastic world beat center) for my lessons with Babacar. And then rely on the kindness of others to take me home. In fact, one thing I am grateful for has been the kindness of others....

But I am a free, spontaneous spirit and my spirit has been closing down.

Guess what!!! My father bought me a car!!!! This is the hugest act of generosity and caring ever! I am seeing the world through new eyes: it is like being born again........

Over Thanksgiving I picked up my little, loaded pre-owned certified Focus at Frontier Ford. Then, the OPEN ROAD. I drove to Orleans (between Redding and Eureka) to spend Thanksgiving with my daughter's husband's family, a true retreat, and the only boy in my life, sweet Sam who is now two.

And oh the ride home! I left at 5 a.m., a frosty morning, on my heated seats, listening and singing to Sinatra to my heart's content on my free 3 month Sirius! Down 101 though winding mountain roads, past Fort Bragg, and continuing though the harvested vineyards full of fall colors in Mendecino.

And my car has sync technology! That means I say a command: "Phone" "Call Mandi" And it does! And no more tickets for the one time I rented a car and had to answer my emergency school phone with a cop behind me and a cost of $457 (thank you Embassy) because I kept waiting for my white courtesy letter that I was told would tell me what to do.

So I know it sounds of no consequence, but yesterday I googlemapped Trader Joe's and drove there in the beautiful town of Hillcrest. It was a delight to go food shopping! I am grateful for the heirloom cherry tomatoes and the steamed beets and the hearts of palm and the fresh salad and the tasty salmon and the $1.99 bottle of savignon blanc!!!

Today I am going to drive across the Coronado Bridge, and know that I won't have to return the car tomorrow. I am going to walk on the path along the ocean. I am going to breathe the air and watch the waves. I am going to think of my mother and let her know of this wonderful kindness of my father. I am naming my car "Harley" after my Dad's love of motorcycles and his understanding of what it means "to go."

I am free again. I am independent. I am spontaneous. I am in the present moment. I am looking for adventure.......and whatever comes my way.

Thank you Daddy.