When a car speeds past you on the highway, it goes "varoooom". You hear the throaty engine sound and then the car disappears into the distance.
Grasshopper No.5 spent the weekend going "varooooom". She blew in from the north in her little red Mini called "Pumpkin". Nobody calls a car "Pumpkin". Maybe a name like "Buzz" or "Zippo". You don't take a finely crafted, high performance machine and give it a cutesy name like "Pumpkin".
I don't want to say that a Mini is a small car but during No.5's trip to Appleton she approached a traffic cop from behind on the highway. He never notice her as she zipped right under his vehicle and disappeared into the sunset. Varoooooom! The Mini is too small to be detected on radar. They don't tell you that in the sales literature.
I took a test drive around Appleton in the little red chariot. With the top down and a thoaty engine, people waved and gave a thumbs up approval. Another Mini driver (I think she was blond) actually waved as though there was some sort of brethrenly Mini fraternity.
Then it was a quick trip to Grasshopper No.4's for the 4th of July, a quick visit on the 5th and the thing called "Pumpkin" was gone. Varoooom!
I must say that purchase of a Mini in this economic environment with gas prices over $4.00 per gallon is like hitting a home run. Allegedly mileage is 40 miles per gallon on the highway. Most people don't know that the Mini Cooper is manufactured by BMW and known for high quality along with performance.
So laugh if you will, I think Grasshopper No.5 gets the last laugh. She has a fun car with great performance and it sips gasoline.
Just one final observation. I don't think Grasshopper No.5 would purchase the Mini if she had several kids (along with car seats that mount in the back). The Mini will not tow 21 foot boats and you can not use it to bring home lumber from Home Depot. But for this moment in time, it seems right for No.5 and it can go Varoooom.
I obviously am spoofing about No.5's Mini. There is a lot of truth in the sensibility of the car along with the "fun". We all are going to be faced with serious transportation decisions in the next few years. Good luck! See if you can do as well.
Pumpkin?
Love,
Dad