So, being the people we are - we did the math. How much we can afford to pay for a car without having to do the Bad Thing.

You know, the Bad Thing. Incure a Car Payment.

So we set ourselves a budget. Looked at the cost of keeping the Piece of Sh*t car on the road. Talked about priorities. And then, because he had to take the morning off, CD hit the web. Edmunds. Carmax. Like that.

10 minutes later, he instant messages me.

With a link to a used Jag.

In our price range.

Ha! I scoffed (Scoffed!). What about...? I shouted to him, 3 rooms away. Repairs. Upkeep. Insurance!

He ambles to my office, leans against my desk.

Honey, face it. It's in our budget.

We can't have a Jag in Pleasantville, I demur.

He raises an eyebrow. (Damn, I wish I could do that.)

We'll get a Honda, I suggest. Safe. Reliable. Gas efficient, I remind my husband, the Environmentalist. Friendly to the environment. If only there was a used hybrid in our price range....

He shrugs. Look, the Jag is in our price range. It's a second car, you've always wanted one, and we can afford it.

I sit, stunned. I sit, charmed. A puddle of charmed. He winks at me. I smile. It occurs to me, that this is the first time in the longest time that he has pushed one of my fantasies, one of my never-will-happen dreams. The silly things. The things that you mention, looking in the window without ever really thinking they will come true.

It feels warm and good.

I wink back.

Posted by: Elizabeth at 04:57 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
Post contains 281 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Oh, how very sweet! Charmed, winked at, smiling... this is all good.

Posted by: Kimberly at January 04, 2005 09:10 PM (Ba9x7)

2 ooooh! A Jag! You lucky, lucky girl!

Posted by: kalisah at January 05, 2005 02:58 AM (B6gHW)

3 Happy De-Lurking Day! A Jaguar sounds lovely - especially if you say it with that accent they use in their commercials. It's nice to see a little spark in your marriage. Hope he keeps it up! PS - Why not go for a car payment with interest rates so low!?

Posted by: Amanda at January 05, 2005 06:13 AM (4totH)

4 Happy De-Lurking Day from me, too. Not that I'm a lurker here (obviously!), but I'm trying to form a new commenting habit, and it never hurts to practice. Are you gonna get the Jag???

Posted by: Kimberly at January 05, 2005 08:59 AM (Vc80e)

5 I hope you get it -- if it would make you happy! I dream of fancy cars and then always buy the Honda! That's all I've ever owned I'm too practical and in the same vein hate car loans too

Posted by: Eyes for Lies at January 05, 2005 09:38 AM (QhI+Z)

6 From a Geo to a Jag? Sounds like a Country song to me . . . And you know what I say, Life is Short . . .

Posted by: Philip at January 05, 2005 09:44 AM (zsoKg)

7 A Jag? A Jag! Woohoo!

Posted by: Grace at January 05, 2005 09:55 AM (UdgWp)

8 You deserve it! I'm glad you're glad and that he's definitely trying (and succeeding) to make you glad!

Posted by: Monica C. at January 05, 2005 10:39 AM (8Ff77)

9 I do love me a jag too. I had one for a while. Then my relationship with the jag ended. The jag got to keep the ex husband. Enjoy your new car!

Posted by: bella at January 05, 2005 02:12 PM (SSqd2)

10 Jags are lovely to look at and I wish you all the best with driving it. May I ask, have you looked at a BMW? Drives like a dream and great in the snow (the X drive ones). I heart BMW.

Posted by: RP at January 06, 2005 06:55 AM (LlPKh)

11 The other upside to owning a Jag? We all get to hate you! Hey, I didn't say it was YOUR upside...

Posted by: The Zero Boss at January 07, 2005 07:21 AM (q9AXC)

12 Darn, woman! Your writing always gives me goosebumps. Even when it's my second time reading it. All through high school, my dream car was a Jaguar. I hope it all works out!

Posted by: Kris at January 08, 2005 02:44 AM (jI0jR)

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