Owning obscure old cars teaches you something pretty quickly, eventually nobody’s coming to figure it out for you. You either walk away from the problem, or you step in, learn the skill, take the risk, and handle what needs to be handled. Funny enough, I think that mindset applies to a lot more than just cars.
Friday night, took my 9 year old son Jude out for a burger in the old G-Wagen.
On the way there, it started spraying fuel. Not ideal.
Here’s the thing. My default in a moment like that is frustration. Maybe yours is too. But problems with our kids around can be opportunities to connect and to show them how to live in a moment like this, even when our first reaction is something else.
So we got our burgers. Took a beat. Enjoyed dinner. Then walked down the road, grabbed the parts we needed, and figured it out together in the parking lot.
I want Jude to see that problems aren’t fun. I’d rather avoid them too. But you can step into them, work through them, and end up on the other side actually enjoying the night.
As much as I wish I didn’t have a problem with an old car tonight, it ended up being the highlight of the evening. The part we’ll both remember.
Shoutout to @advanceautoparts for having what we needed within walking distance.
The soundtrack in my head to the four glorious days that @shelcrandall and I just had celebrating her soon 40th birthday in Mexico. Our first airplane vacation together sans-kids in almost 14 years. Wayyyy too long. Highly recommended totally silent jungle cenote swimming … whew knew that was so good!?
Daily driving old cars doesn’t let you outsource responsibility. You have to think ahead, carry the right tools, and know what to do when something breaks. Over time, you stop fearing problems… you just get used to solving them.
Almost didn’t click on the listing. Almost didn’t go look at it. Almost didn’t make the offer. All of it came down to a random storage unit a few miles from my house and a guy who was ready to be done with it. Still one of the wildest car buys I’ve ever made.
