esrosedotblog

WOODY

When we got the new Sebring convertible in December, the plan was to sell our 1984 Le Baron Town and Country Convertible or 'Woody' for short. You can see why 'for short'. 'Woody' or 'Woods' rolls off the tongue a bit more readily than 'our Chrysler Le Baron Town and Country Convertible'. Actually, it is 'our Chrysler Le Baron Town and Country Mark Cross Edition Convertible'. Whew.

The other thing is that the nickname 'Woody' or 'Woods' or 'the Woods' (when talking in the third person) signifies our deep affection for the car and all it stands for; another time; another aesthetic; the rebirth of the convertible--a lot of history; and so on.

Therefore, it is also not a surprise that our original plan has not been implemented and 'the Woods' is still sitting in the garage; there has been no ad, no sign put on the windshield whilst we parked 'him' on a prominent street (a big PS practice--there are streets that have 8-10 cars for sale parked at the curbs); and we have not called any of the people who put a note on our windshield one time or another saying 'if you ever decide to sell the car give me a call' or something like that. In other words, there is no action up to now and in the present.

I guess any observer would conclude that we are not ready to sell 'the Woods'. The other night John asked what we were going to do and I made a pitch for keeping him--Woods not John. The costs of keeping it are not too high--a few hundred for registration and insurance. There is the inconvenience of having a space taken up in the garage. The Jeep has to be in the carport and, when people come, we put it on the street. Back and forth' forth and back. The only one happy with that exercise is Franklin who loves to ride in the Jeep.

I don't know. It is a puzzle. Have we become auto-besotted SouthernCalifornians all ready? Perhaps. When we arrived here in one car, the Jeep, someone told us that we would have to have two cars. They were right. Two guys, two cars, independence. We found the Woods. Love at first sight. The same person added, we thought as a joke, that 'of course if you live in Southern California, two guys should really have three cars'. We have never been able to figure that logic out until now.

I take Woods out once or twice a week. I had him out this morning to go to the Meeting. He still attracts a lot of attention, which is one reason to have him. He also works pretty well once he gets going. I can still beat someone at a light and that is on four cylinders. So, his start-up is cranky and there are some faults with his transmission. He is a handsome geezer and in these days when I am getting a lot more appreciative of handsome geezers, Woody may just hang around a while. I certainly intend to.