Good for the Soul

So we stumbled upon a car show completely by accident when we visited a favorite pizza place for dinner recently.  We pulled up and there they were--muscle cars from all decades and in all stages of restoration.  As to be expected, we found ourselves amongst the popped hoods of dozens of classic cars until we came across one that was in pristine condition.  The owner had documented everything he had done to the car, from engine reconstruction to the paint job--and he had done it all himself. He'd purchased the car in retirement with no experience, and slowly learned the process of bringing it back to mint condition. We talked to he and his wife for a long time about it, and it was like seeing ourselves in the future.  I can only imagine (and dream!) of what Stella would look like after that much time and work had been put into her.  As I admired every angle of their beautiful car, I wondered if we would ever reach this point.  If someday many, many years from now Mike and I would sit in a parking lot next to our four-wheeled baby, while nostalgically watching a couple of youngsters staring under her hood in awe. It seems like an impossibly long road, but what do we have if not time? We're already off to a great start.  And seeing a husband/wife duo that resurrected an iconic American muscle car from the floorboards up gave me a huge sense of inspiration.

I can see what she'd look like in my head. Hot blacktop and the setting sun. 

The Best Time of Year

It's springtime finally, and after a few weeks of rain to wash away the salty roads of winter, it was time for the best time of the year.  Time for the eye candy to come out of the garage.

Spring is a fantastic time for anyone living in Michigan. After a long, cold and dark EIGHT MONTHS indoors, we can finally open our windows again, and be outside without taking 10 minutes to bundle up.  Everyone's Vitamin D levels go back up as we are finally exposed to sunshine again.  It's awesome, that first opportunity you get to open the windows after so long.  For me, this time of year is even better than most, because not only can I open my windows, but I can also start up my Corvette. 

Of all the things I miss about Stella all winter long, the thing I miss the very most is the relief she brings after a long, hard day at work.  I can't explain why, but coming home, jumping in and driving fast in that car makes me forget about everything else.  That kind of stress relief can't be bought and can't be replicated.  It's truly priceless.

Having Stella out of the garage again reminds me of course that her driver's side rear wheel is about to fall apart. And her turn signals don't work. And her battery drains over night. And I get to ask myself awesome questions like, "I wonder if my window will roll down today??"

That's ok.  No car has ever been loved quite so much. :)

The Best One Ever

I bet you thought I forgot! Of course not. :) Lots of changes happened this year that certainly kept me as busy as I've been since grad school, but enjoying Stella is still one of my most favorite things to do in the world.  Lately, I've been thinking back on what a great year it's been! From the very first day of the season (a Sunday) when my husband brought her back to our apartment for the first time in over 5 months. I could barely stand the wait, and when I saw her parked in our car port I couldn't wait to get inside. 

We took LOTS of long, long drives in the country.  When I say long, I mean 2 to 3 hours long.  LONG and awesome. Winding roads, hills, not another car or traffic signal for miles. Just the two of us and that phenomenal car. 

Sometimes we preferred the attention and drove her in the city, the way we did on the 4th of July when we went downtown for fireworks.  Sometimes we preferred to stretch her legs, and took her far away from home with no GPS to tell us where to go.

Unfortunately, our long drives cost us dearly.  The passenger side rear wheel gave out mid-summer, burning itself up on the side of a country road.  We sat in the beating sun for over an hour waiting for the tow truck, but loved every minute of it.  Because even a broke down Stingray can make me happy.

It cost us almost our entire repair budget for the year to get her back on all fours again, but we did it.

And it wouldn't be an antique car experience without the generalized mass leaking of fluids from everywhere and at all times!

In late July we bought a house, and for the first time since owning her, Stella had her own garage stall to protect her from the elements.  My favorite part? Not having to cover her with a tarp every time it rained!

 Fortunately, we were able to do a few simple projects ourselves!

Summer eventually cooled off and winter came, and this year it felt so much better to park her in our own garage.  It was recommended after this year's wheel damage that we lift her up off the ground over the winter months and take her wheels off.  Now she balances precariously on 4 jack stands, and although she looks quite silly at the moment, it's so nice to see her everyday. :)

GM released the first model in the newest generation Corvette in January of this year. It was much anticipated and well loved by Corvette enthusiasts everywhere, including this one. It was the first model Corvette to be call a Stingray since Stella's year--1976.  It lives up to the name!

And although the new C7 could out race Stella in a second--even though only the finest and most high-end material s were used to make the interior--there's simply nothing that can measure up to the Corvette you get to park in your own garage. To the one you get to call YOUR OWN.

So here's to Stella--the best one ever built.