As I was driving home this morning, after dropping The May Queen off at kindergarten, I saw two feet sticking out of a car window. They were crossed comfortably above the side mirror. The car was an old boxy car, covered with stickers and a bit of rust. Immediately I was filled with memories of being young and riding with my feet out the window. Of the the cool rush of air over my feet, up my legs, into my face and through my hair. Of riding in the car with my high school friends, laughing and singing, with no where in particular to go. Long summer days and cars with names, which we hopped into through the windows, just for fun. Our lives stretched before us like the open road, the possibilities rushing past like the wind.
I drove on home, in my minivan, with the air conditioning on. But in my mind, my feet were hanging out the window.
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17 comments:
What a perfect image of summer.
I could feel the wind in my hair. :)
What I always loved was sticking my hand out the window and having the wind push it back, have its way with it.
I remember.
I still do that - well one foot, and only when my husband is driving. But yes, sweet joy.
I drive with the windows down and the sun roof open unless it's just too stinking hot, like over 95.
Ahhh, footloose and fancy free - that's why I bought a soft top - my moving kingdom, ermm, I mean queendom ... ahh, what the heck, let's go for freedom :)
Feet out the window... used to do it. But now, instead of free summer days, I think of mangled body parts if that car were to be in an accident. Shudder....
beautiful imagery - hope you were able to keep it in your mind's eye all through the day!
Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh.
"cars with names"
Love that.
Love this post.
Nice. Truly. Mine are out there too!
This is absolutely gorgeous.
Ahhh. I can feel those days now. Thank you for bringing it back.
ah yes. me too.
Beautiful. It does bring me back.
I remember, too--thanks for that wonderful image.
Oh, gosh.. yes... :) I remember those days, too.. as well as just picking up, filling the gas tank and leaving for parts unknown.
Must be getting old. I don't think it would be safe to do that anymore.
When I was younger, it didn't matter. Somehow things always worked out.
Peace,
~Chani
http://thailandgal.blogspot.com
i remember too.
it is shockingly, viscerally amazing to drive by these ghosts of our former lives and realize that we have both moved so far away from that self and yet still retain it within, almost unchanged.
We now name our cars.
I have the Champagne Dream. My husband traded in his Blue Beasty for the Golden Truck.
But nobody hangs nuthin' out of 'em, not even the dog.
I hope you had the music up loud, too. That's my favorite thing to do when I've got no kids in the car. (Uh, the Champagne Dream, that is....)
I never had air conditioning in my car until I got this current one four years ago. The wind was definitely my friend.
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