Have you ever seen the John Candy film, 'Uncle Buck'? If you have not, it is dated now, but pretty funny all the same. The John Candy character 'Uncle Buck' is now officially me. If you see the scene where he drives up to the High School in his smoking, out of tune, beat up 1975 Mercury Marquis Brougham Coupe, then you might understand what I am talking about..
Uncle Buck's niece Tia is mortified as Buck pulls up to the school. Which is not too unlike the feeling anyone driving near or with me must feel. I recently started driving an old 1984 Buick Skylark that was once owned my by Mother in Law. It does not smoke and misfire, but it does have some other traits that put it right up with the Buck-Mobile. The engine makes a sort of clicking sound as if it needs a valve job. Both headlights are bashed in (still working but crushed). There is a heating knob and a radio knob missing, you have to use a pair of pliers to adjust either. Some of the windows don't roll up or down. Several warning lights are on full time. The interior is worn and messy, and there are old people add-ons like a steering wheel cover, seat covers etc. Someone has put a sticker on the back of the Car that says 'My other Car runs on Fairy Dust'.
A few weeks back my wife asked me to stop by the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for the dog. So one way home from work, I pulled into the local Walgreen's and went through the drive-through in my warn out old 'Uncle Buck' jalopy. The motor was a clicking and a clacking. I told the clerk I was picking up some medicine, and he asked me the name of the patient. I said 'Samantha Adler' (my dog is named Samantha). The clerk clicked away at their computer and asked me "Sam's" birth date. Dumbfounded, I told the clerk I would have to call my wife. Sitting their, reving up the car to keep it from stalling, I had to dial my wife and ask her Sam's birthday. The clerk was eyeing me as if I were an alien creature. With the birth date in hand, I was able to obtain the doggy pills. Wonderful. She was eyeing me suspiciously as I pulled away...flashing her my Fairy Dust dreams.
I've grown kind of fond of the pasty old wreck. My pride is now tweaked, and I have so far refused my wife's pleas to find something a bit newer to drive. I refuse to lose the old clunker.
Cheers....nca
P.S. The niece, Tia...always reminded me of my middle daughter. The loser look she gives Uncle Buck with those expressive eyebrows I have seen myself many times. And not for lack of any deserving on my part. I used to tell my daughters that embarrassing them in public was a Father's prerogative. :)
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