Saturday, February 26, 2005 Punch Pony, Red--No Hit Backs!
As Joe, Bill, and I enjoyed our small pepperoni and small gourmet white pizzas at the Mellow Mushroom, we watched the Friday evening rush hour traffic on University Avenue creep past the window and noticed something strange: The Ford Mustangs in town seem to have exploded in population. We counted at least twenty ponies representing different model years, but noticed that most seemed to be last year's body style.
There's a simple explanation, of course. With the release of the new, gorgeousdesign--which I do plan to test drive--the dealers wanted to clear their lots of the old bodies. So, parents seeking a good deal on a car their kids wouldn't complain about driving sent their babies off to college in an Americanclassic. The same thing happened in 1993, and it's how I ended up driving around my first few years in Gainesville in an outdated 'stanger. Of course, it was my boyfriend's (His parents traded in their van for two Mustangs--they were so cheap at the lot-clearing prices--and Jamie was a little lazy, so I drove us everywhere in his white LX hatchback, but I didn't mind since I love to drive. I keep a little Neal Cassady, the Great American Driver and Cocksman, alive inside me.), but it was my second Mustang. My folks gave me my Dad's royal blue convertible pony (the devil with a blue dress on, as my Dad called her in homage to one of his favorite songs) on my 18th birthday. Oh, how I loved that car; I annoyed my friends by walking around, jingling my keys whenever I wasn't seated behind her steering wheel. However, like many gifts of my youth, I didn't get to keep her. Still, I was fortunate to be able to drive--and I mean drive (I once ended up sliding ass-backwards into a parking lot after spinning out on taking a slick corner too fast)--a Mustang in my early 20's, and so are these kids.
It's a good thing Bill and I don't hit each other (especially in front of Joe), 'cause my arm would be black and blue from adapting the punch-buggy game. I think Bill might be a little sad that there are now more ponies than buggies to spy. At least we're doing ourpart to keep the original game in play. Do you get to punch twice if it's a Super Beetle?
# posted by Robin @ 10:15 AM Comments: Ah, the Mustang. Had a '66 baby blue one myself, with original wheels and seats. There should be a law against a teenage girl with that many horses at her beck and call. Let's just say that racing was a passion for one summer. And then the 'Stang was taken away, replaced by a 1972 LTD. Yuck. But that one summer. You know it rocked.
