An extraordinary day
15 Jan 2012 6 Comments
in happy spurts Tags: dad, driving, VW
Yesterday was one of those beyond wonderful, life-affirming days. At one point I even started making a list of all the great things that had happened. Here’s the boring run-down of an extraordinary day…
I got to wake up and have breakfast with my mom AND that guy I married. This may sound lame, but I never get to spend much time with either of those people. So it felt really great to be hanging out over cups of coffee and pieces of toast.
Peezu and Jack tired after a day of playing.
I went with my parents to visit my grandmother and help her get ready for her home re-do. I brought along my dogs and they got to play in a yard for the first time since June! There was lots of running like crazy, lots of rolling around on the grass and lots and lots of playing fetch.
Gen getting some last minute work done on what makes her tick.
In between playtime and grandma time, my dad and I finally picked up Gen, the VW bug. I filled out another check for good ol’ VW Joe, who felt so bad that I was spending so much cash that he didn’t even charge me tax this time.
Dad drove her back to my grandma’s and while on the way back, on her first time back on her feet, I watched as a guy riding a really super vintage motorcycle pulled up next to my dad, took a long look over his shoulder at Gen and gave dad the raised “right on” fist. It was an adorable moment that got me really excited about how fun Gen’ll be to drive.
Ah, driving! Ready for the best of the best of my day?
My dad totally taught me how to drive stick!!! Up until yesterday, every attempt I had made to drive stick with Aaron in his Camry has ended with me in shaking and crying from a full-blown panic attack. But there was something different about driving Gen! I had heard from many different sources that VWs are very easy cars on which to learn, and those many different sources were right! I actually had fun driving. But to be fair, I know that my success in learning stick came from how insanely forgiving the car is though. Gen let me get away with SO many things that I shouldn’t have been able to do. But who cares! I did it! I fucking did it! And I’m proud.
And what better way to end such a magical day then with a show by my favorite band: Aaron’s Little Richard cover band Big Dick. Yup, I got to dance with Coco to the amazing tunes of Little Richard and more in the backyard of a fancy Silverlake home overlooking the glittering lights of the city.
Other highlights of the day:
- Got In & Out for the second time this week.
- Aaron spotted Angelyne and sent me a video.
- Took a nice walk with Jackson.
- Grabbed a midnight snack with Coco.
- Falling asleep under clean flannel sheets. Yes, that’s a highlight.
And I also want to take a moment wish my parents a HAPPY 35th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY today! I love you both so very much and I’m super glad y’all have stuck together for this long. I know that marriage is not always easy, but thank you for giving both me and Aaron something to look up to — your strength, both independently and as a couple, and belief in love and family is inspiring.
Aloha there, I'm Megan Finley. I'm a 30-something girl, living in Los Angeles with that guy I married and our rescued pets. I work online (a LOT) for the 
Jan 15, 2012 @ 23:17:28
Congrats on the stick-shift driving!
It’s amazing how much the shift mechanisms can vary across car models. I was fortunate enough to learn on an old Honda Civic that used to be my mother’s. She hated driving stick but she called that old Honda “semi-automatic” ( meaning it was very forgiving ). By contrast by father’s Supra was torture. You had to let the clutch up almost all the way and then you had about 1/2″ between “ready to re-engage the engine” and “fuck I stalled again”. One time I stalled it about 17 times trying to parallel park on a hill ( on a hill.. WTF man?!? just walk! ).
Jan 16, 2012 @ 02:14:52
What a special treat to read this Megan!!! I love when I can spend precious time with you too, and I especially love our “coffee & toast” time together:-) Congrats on mastering shifting Gen (never thought I would utter those words!) and thank you for your help yesterday at Gen’s (as in Grandma:-)
Dad and I love you very much, and appreciate you acknowledging our mile-stone!
Much Aloha,
Momita
p.s. I learned to drive a stick in the Covina Sear’s parking lot….they used to not be opened on Sundays, so my boyfriend at the time took me there to teach me on his mom’s Ford (I think) Fairlane…….I like automatics!!!
Jan 16, 2012 @ 03:02:30
Awwww. Happy Wedding Anniversary Meglet’s parents!
So jealous of that car. For real.
Jan 17, 2012 @ 18:11:42
You can borrow it any time Lala!
Jan 17, 2012 @ 03:36:47
Congratulations on becoming a stick driver! Gen is adorable. I have driven a VW bus and found it very forgiving, but I learned stick on my dad’s VW Rabbit diesel, which was a bitch. It made me feel super tough, though. I would have a stick now if it weren’t for a bum foot
What a sweet post and nice reflections on things to be grateful for.
Jan 17, 2012 @ 18:11:24
I TOO totally feel like a badass now. Funny that.