My little life lesson

Sometimes I make decisions that I like to call "life lessons."  A couple years ago I made such a decision and this past weekend it all came to a sad end.

Introducing Joseph Manuel

Joseph was my rebound.  I just finished a good run with my Jeep (and 14 mpg) and was jonesen for a car with great gas mileage.  After a quick go on KSL.com I came up with this beauty, my 1996 VW Golf.  It came equipped with tinted windows, 20inch wheels (not shown), a MagnaFlow muffler, high-end sound system, and suspension kit and mariachi music . . . (okay, so not kit or music, but it really would have finished off the whole theme . . .)  I really didn't tell anyone and just went ahead and did it.  If only I had a camera with me when I introduced other to Joseph Manuel.  Oh the joy that came across their faces.

The fun didn't stop there.  Joseph Manuel came with a few additional features that weren't listed on the title:

• As a safety feature, the A/C wouldn't work after the temp reached 70 degrees
• In an attempt to keep me driving within the speed limit, the car would thoughtfully shake when I reached 60 mph
• The passenger door would randomly swing open on the freeway to keep me on my toes.  However, I sneakingly side stepped this feature by tying the door shut with Meg's headband.  The father-in-law really appreciated me escorting his daughter into the driver side back seat on our dates . . .

And LAST, but definitely NOT LEAST

• When the temp would rise above 80 degrees MARIJUANA would leach from the seats as to keep me light-hearted and youthful.

After a good run together, a mechanic stole my joy by informing me that Joseph Manuel was not going to "pass the state SAFETY'S TEST."  I think he was jealous and Joey Man was parked and stayed parked for 14 months.  This past weekend, Craigslist finished him off and now he is gone.

SO, Joey Man was one of many "life lessons."  Specifically, life lessons that Megs won't even let me forget.