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

[Vicki McHugh]

Janet, that's a beautiful car and your daughter is so lucky to have a Mom who is a reporter! It's times like this that makes life wonderful!

[Julie Samford]

WOW! Awesome ... thanks for sharing!

[Jennie Ann]

Oh, man, Mary Jo, I had two Vegas in my younger life, and both burned oil horribly. I couldn't go through one tank of gas without putting in a quart of oil. LOL!

[Mary Jo Cochran]

That car was loved. I bet it's an eight cylinder. It's worth every bit of the gas it takes. When the engine wears out she can have it rebuilt.

My first car was a Vega (brand new piece of junk), then a Bobcat (red and black), a new Camaro, then another new Camaro (both red). I'm on my third Cougar now - eight cylinders, a sporty-looking one. But it's white. I'm thinking of wasting the money to get it repainted silver-blue.

[Lamb Lamb]

Wow! You just made me tear up! Today is my son's birthday. He is 15 years old. I hope to buy him a car for his 16th birthday. Thank you for sharing your story. I loved it!

[Jennie Ann]

Man, oh, man, Janet, that is one fine-looking Mustang.

I hope your daughter treats driving like it is a privilege. My daughter had to learn a few things about driving the hard way. Driving in the city, for instance, is not quite the same as driving on unpopulated side streets.

One day she was visiting a friend at the hospital and backed into a parked car. No biggie, but it had to be taken care of by the insurance company. On the way home from the hospital the same day, she hit the rear of a car in front of her at a red light. Another fender bender but two in one day?!

I am happy to report that today she is a good driver, but, oh, my, the learning process for her was brutal on me.

[Janet]

How about a drag race, Jennie?

I still have a bit of wild child left in me, too.

[Janet]

[Jennie Ann]

Oh, Janet, that horse tale is a good lessons learned story. I am glad you found a good home for Boone.

I had a '65 Mustang. I remember it was dark green, sat real low, and had bucket seats. LOL

My very first car, though, was a '66 GTO with a His and Her shifter. I also owned a '68 and a '69 GTO, a Hurst 4-speed with Gabriel hijackers and Cragars on the wheels. Yeah, I used to be a wild child!

Me singing: You oughta see her on a road course or a quarter mile
This little modified Pon-Pon has got plenty of style
She beats the gassers and the rail jobs, really drives 'em why-ee-eye-ild
C'mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO

Wa-wa, (mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO") wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa
(mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO")
Wa-wa, (mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO") wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa
(mixed with "Yeah, yeah, little GTO")
Wa-wa (mixed with "Ahhh, little GTO") wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa

[Janet]

Judy, that car is worth some money now!! My daughter also loves the '65 Mustang. They are beautiful!

Jennie, I hang on tight to whatever I can find in the car to brace myself for the impending impact I think is about to happen every single time she doesn't start braking soon enough. I can see how you'd throw your back out.

My first car was a beautiful red Firebird with a white top. I was so excited. Within a week, everything started to go wrong. It was only running on four cylinders. The engine was going. Then the gas gauge was broken, and there was a leak somewhere in the gas line. So it was always a mystery ride if I'd get to where I was going. I ended up returning the car to the dealer, reluctantly.

I also bought a very handsome horse, after everyone told me not to buy a horse based on its looks. Well, Boone was a wild boy from Montana. I remember the first time he threw me, flying through the air thinking about my career and the fact that it could be over in a minute if I get seriously hurt. Then my daughter was thrown, then the trainer was thrown. It was very expensive boarding him and just being able to feed him carrots and apples, not not being able to ride him. We ended up giving him to someone more experienced.

My point is I haven't learned from my past experiences, I guess.