Car Shopping circa 2001

In the fall of 2001, when I was buying a new car, I chose to look at Fords.   Ever since my brother-in-law started running his own dealership in Wisconsin, we bought them from him.  However, since I moved to the Pacific Northwest, it was no longer practical to make a road trip to buy a car from Wisconsin.  However, he still did have some insight into the costs of Fords, so I figured I could work out a decent deal on a Ford.

After going through the test drive process and looking at what was available on the lot, I went in to start talking money.  Their process at the dealership was to show the customer the invoice, add some miscellaneous fees, and then calculate a 15% profit margin for the car. By the time the salesman was done, the price was about 50% more than the sticker on the car.

When he asked me what I thought, I said "My brother-in-law, who owns a Ford dealership, said I should be able to buy it for the invoice cost."  The salesman looked at me horrified!  He started to justify why they can't do that, and started trying to talk me into a loan because the "monthly payment would be smaller."  I stuck to my guns and the salesman had to go get his manager.

When his manager came out, he was taller and wider than the salesman, and kind of started over.  He said he could be gracious and waive some of the fees.  So he scratched out some numbers, recomputed the total, and asked me what I thought.  I replied "My brother-in-law, who owns a Ford dealership, said I should be able to buy it for the invoice cost." He was indignant.  He explained to me that they had costs in the dealership and they needed to make a profit on the car.  Once again, I stuck to my guns and told them that no one is forcing them to sell me a car.  He then indicated that he didn't have that kind of authority and had to get his manager.

When the next guy came out, he was ever larger and wider and pretty imposing.  I think he told me that he played defensive tackle at the University of Washington or something like that.  He took the sheet of paper and crossed off some more numbers.  At this point in time, the only thing left was the invoice price and the 15% profit margin, trying to get me to understand that they needed to make money on the car.  When he asked me what I thought, I gave him the same answer that I gave the other two:  "My brother-in-law, who owns a Ford dealership, said I should be able to buy it for the invoice cost."

He was fit to be tied.  He started to berate me and I finally had it.  I started to get up to leave when he circled the invoice price and threw the paper at me.  He left in a huff, but in the end, I got the car for the invoice price plus a nominal delivery charge.

I don't want to say I won and they lost, or vice versa.  I'm not that kind of guy.  Ordeals like that (and it was an ordeal) are experiences that I'd rather not go through.  

Ford Focus

2001 Ford Focus

Most people remember September 11th, but I have strong memories of September 12th, 2001.  I was driving to work that morning on the Boeing Freeway when I saw a police vehicle with it's lights flashing coming up behind me at a high rate of speed.  As per the law, I pulled over a lane to let them pass.

I was distracted enough that I didn't realize that the traffic in that lane was stopped.  So I stood on my brakes, squealing tires, and hit the car in front of me.I drove it for about another month until the electrical system totally shorted out.  (It's really bad when you can hear the alternator over the radio.)  So I donated the Tracer to a favorite charity and purchased a new Ford Focus.  I drove it for 10 years and never had a major issue. 

This car had the distinction of being the first car that I sold because I wanted to instead of had to.  When Nissan came out with their Leaf model, I decided that I wanted to be an early adopter.  So this was the first car that I sold because I wanted to instead of had to.

This reminds me of the experience of buying the car, but that's another story.  

Spontaneity

The other night, Gail was looking at her e-mail after work and saw that the Pacific Science Center was having an opening night showing of Guardians of the Galaxy 2 at 10pm.  She asked me if I was interested, and of course I said yes.  However, I reminded her that it was a Thursday night and she had to get up tomorrow at 5:30am for school, so it would probably affect her more. She bought tickets while I went to choir. 

After I got home, we got in the car and drove downtown.  Of course there was a line for seats, and we were near the back of the line.  I noticed that there were a number of Millennials in the crowd and most were of the nerdy variety.  I kept track as we were filtering into the theater, and based on my observation, we were the oldest in the theater. 

As for my opinion, it was just as good as the first.  It was very difficult to not sing along with the soundtrack, but very easy to laugh at the lines along with the rest of the attendees.  We got a richer experience than most, since we actually lived through the music the first time around. 

As for the picture, it was foggy when we came out around 1am, and the Space Needle was glowing.  I thought it looked pretty cool. 

12,000 Days

The first thousand came and went without fanfare.  It was a Friday and Maria had her two month birthday.  We probably had company come to visit, for that first year, there were family visiting often.  Just another day.   

The second thousand are lost to time as we were preparing for the first Christmas in our new house.  Maria almost 3 and Corinne at 15 months kept us busy. Just another day. 

The next thousand were busy with a new thing for us, school.  Maria trotted off to Kindergarten, leaving Gail home with Corinne, Valerie and the new dog, Bailey. Just another day. 

Four thousand came in the summer of '95.  We were midway through our short stint in Indiana, but we didn't know it..  School had just let out and we had just gone through a kitchen remodel.  Gail was getting ready to start a new job and we were beginning to enjoy the summer school break.  Just another day.

The next thousand again saw us in a new location, Iowa.  We were settling in after moving a couple of years earlier.  Deanne was the only one still at home and Corinne was getting ready for her piano recital.  Iowa in March is still a bit on the grey side.  Just another day.

After another thousand it was the Sunday of Thanksgiving week.  Our church was going through conflict and we were preparing the move to Everett.  The kids were on school break and we were in the car returning home from visiting family.  Just another day.

Seven thousand saw us enjoying summer in the Northwest, and preparing.  VBS had just finished and we were getting ready for the Evergreen state fair and the arrival of Hannes, an Exchange Student from Germany.  Just another day.

Another thousand saw us at Mother's Day.  I started a new job and Gail was beginning her teaching career. Maria was off at college and Corinne eagerly awaited her senior year.  Valerie was consumed with her horse and Deanne was starting to learn how to sew.  Just another day.

The ninth thousand saw us preparing to visit Maria at college.  Corinne was beginning her studies in Computer Science.  Valerie was preparing to head off to Alabama and Deanne was settling in at high school.  We decided that we would spend our 25th wedding anniversary returning to Yosemite where we honeymooned. Just another day.

Ten thousand saw us getting ready to fly to Milwaukee to visit the family.  Gail was heading back to school for her Masters in Education.  Even with three out on their own, there is still a dog, things to do around the house and trips to plan.  Just another day.

The last thousand saw us in Tokyo touring with Deanne and my mother.  It was hot and muggy and we visited a school designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and visited the Tokyo National Museum.  Just another day.

Which brings us to today.  Today I have been married to the love of my life for 12,000 days.  I may not have noticed all the other thousands as they rolled past, but each and every one of them had me thanking the Lord for the love and companionship of my loving wife.

Teddy Roosevelt

I have long admired Theodore Roosevelt.  (I highly recommend Edmund Morris' trilogy The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Rex, and Colonel Roosevelt.)  So when I had a chance to visit Long Island on a business trip, I made it a point to visit his home on Sagamore Hill.

I visited on a Sunday in April 2012, and at the time, there were sequestered cutbacks so the house was closed.  Mildly disappointed, I wandered the grounds virtually alone.

As I walked around the house, I climbed on the porch to look in the windows.  I was enjoying the nice spring day and noticed the rocking chairs.  As I saw them rock, I could picture Teddy and Edith sitting on the porch in their old age watching the Roosevelt clan climbing down the hill to the bay.  It was almost as if their spirits were reaching out to wish me peace.

The feelings that I had that day reinforced my belief that the National Parks and Historic Sites are a treasure and that they can give us a bridge back to a time a hundred years ago.

To My Valentine - Sunset

Last year, Valentine's weekend synced up with President's Day so Gail had a couple of days off.  We decided to go someplace warm, and visit a few National Parks, so we flew into Albuquerque and spent a long weekend.

We arrived mid-afternoon and hadn't planned much for that day.  On the way to the hotel, we noticed an advertisement for the Sandia Peak tramway.  Having nothing else planned, we decided to spend Valentine's Eve watching the sunset from the top of the Sandia Mountains.

What we really didn't know is that at the top of the tramway is a ski area, which still had snow.  We only brought light jackets because we really didn't expect to see much snow this trip.  So, cold and shivering, we wandered around the top of the mountain until the sunset.  We had a much better weather than in Hawaii and got some really bad quality photos with our iPhones.

Warm or cold, I will go just about anywhere to be with my lovely bride.

To My Valentine - Sunrise

In 2003, I rescued the love of my life from raising the kids and escaped to Hawaii for a week.  I planned it so that we would be on Maui on Valentine's Day.

One of the "bucket list" items people talk about is sunrise over Haleakala, the dormant volcano on Maui.  We figured going on Valentine's Day would make it even more special.

Sunrise in February is about 7am, and the road to the top is about a 90 minute drive.  It's so popular now that they are taking reservations.  We woke up at about 4am to start the drive up the steep, windy road in the dark.  We were not alone, there were many others making the trek as well.  We were all hoping that we could get above the weather and see the sun above the clouds. 

By the time we got to the top, it was cold (over 10,000 feet from sea level), and raining.  We put on our rain gear and took a picture to the east at sunrise.  (Notice the little orange stripe through the raindrops on the lens.)  We also noticed a group of bicyclists strapping on rain gear and getting ready for the ride down the mountain.  (Apparently, that's a thing too!)

On the way down, we stopped and grabbed a bite for breakfast and headed back to the resort for a morning nap.

Among my favorite things in life are the days I get to spend with my lovely wife.  We have spent many Valentine's Days together.  Some with flowers and cards, others on trips, still others with the family.  Looking forward to the Heart-shaped Pizza for supper.

I Love You, Gail.