Priceless Moment

[Janet]

My daughter has been dreaming of getting a Mustang. She knows every body style of the Mustang from 1965 until now. She's getting her license next week, and I've been searching for a used car for her for a month. I kept trying to steer her away from Mustangs since they're more expensive. I kept showing her car after car, and she didn't like any of them. She finally got to the point where she was ready to get a Hyundai. We saw one yesterday, but the lot was closed. I planned to go there today to buy it.

I went home and looked on Craigslist one more time, for the heck of it. I typed in Mustang, and up popped a new listing, a reasonably-priced used 1998 Mustang with no picture. I e-mailed the owner and asked for pictures. I was pretty shocked to open his return e-mail and see a beautiful black Mustang convertible. The best part was it was really close to home, so we jumped in the car to go see it. I talked to her and my younger daughter about keeping a poker face while we're there, not to look too interested.

We took it for a ride with the top down, fell in love with the thing instantly. She did so good keeping her composure while I made the deal with the owner. As soon as we agreed on the price, the owner went inside the house to get the paperwork. My daughter than rushed at me, nearly knocked me down, and gave me a huge, huge hug and started crying, outloud crying, loud outloud crying. I saw the family inside the house looking out the window at us. They watched us, and the daughter in the house said, "I think she's crying." That was one of the best moments I have ever had in my life, watching her dream come true.

I'm taking it to my mechanic Wednesday. He could tell me I made a huge mistake buying it, but I don't care. That moment was worth it, even if it's going to cost me.


Janet

[Jennie Ann]

That's a great story, Janet. Thanks for sharing it with us.

I remember when my daughter first learned how to drive a car, I went out with her, to try to give her a few pointers. Well, I was a Nervous Nellie the entire time. The next morning, my back was in such pain. I was sitting so stiff, I guess, when I was in the car with her that I pulled out my back. LOL!

She soon thereafter took driving lessons in school. ;-)

[Glen Warner]

Janet, Judy --

You are *both* awesome moms!

--gdw

[Judy]

Bought my son his 2000 Mustang before he got his license as an incentive to make sure he got the license (yeah, so Mom's a bit pushy, so what).

First time we went to take the behind-the-wheel test, he kept saying, "I know I'm going to fail." Two straight hours of that while waiting in line. Sure 'nuf, got to be the next car in line and the tester says, "Honk your horn." Dang thing didn't honk. Couldn't take the test.

Second time we went for the test, again, two hours (but in MY car), of "Something horrible's going to happen and I won't pass." He's coming back from his test, good test, tester says, "Make a left into the parking lot," of the friggin' DMV. It was a two-lane street, one lane going each direction, with a turning lane in the middle that anybody could use for turning. He made his left from the lane he was in, not the turning lane (we hadn't gone through that situation yet, I guess, and his driving school teacher didn't tell him about it either). Instant fail. And he would have passed!

So Mr. Doom and Gloom is freaking out, doesn't want to take the test, isn't washing his car, couldn't care less about his license. Actually refused to practice. Wanted nothing to do with a car. I made his next driving appointment and didn't tell him about it. We went to a doc appointment and I forced him to drive. ("I don't know where my permit it." "I can't find it." "I don't want to drive.") Yes, I forced him to drive. I kept making him go up and down streets. Finally he says, "What are we doing?" I said, "Well, in about an hour you're taking your driving test again." Man, was he PO'd at me. But, he had no time to fret, was able to get a good night's sleep, even able to eat breakfast... and he passed! Only three errors!!!

This is a very soft-spoken kid that speaks very few words and he would not stop talking the entire way home! That was priceless. I know exactly what you mean.

But then it was time to put $$ into getting the horn fixed, along with some other things we didn't know about when we purchased the car (windshield wipers didn't work!). But he too fell in love with that car because it had a body kit on it and is really a great shade of blue.

He's now been driving about three weeks and has finally found a sense of freedom in his life.

Yeah, the car wasn't in perfect shape (horn & wipers, among others), but it's his first car and he LOVES it.

By the way, my first car was a '66 Fastback. My father bought me a new car when I graduated HS, so I gave him back the '66. He then sold the Mustang to a relative for a few thousand bucks I think about ten years ago (he held on to it for that long). I was on e-bay looking for a Fastback binding machine today, and up came Fastback Mustangs. Man, I should have held on to that car!