Are those Wisconsin license plates?

Today I'm driving the Jeep. Those who visit this "spot" frequently are familiar with the mini-saga of Mica, my Mazda. And since I no longer trust her to carry me to and from the daily grind, I have borrowed my husband's hauling vehicle, his towing truck; also affectionately referred to as "the Heep" until she's restored to working condition. This borrowed beauty, this SUV with an attitude, boasts significant rust, a backseat filled with tools, cables, and more dirt than currently resides in our backyard, and a layer of dust on the console that's so thick that I'm starting to ponder the reality that it may actually be holding the Jeep together.

But I like the Jeep. I'm thinking of naming her; just don't tell my husband! And I've learned some valuable lessons while tooling around town in my very own man-mobile.

1. I am a much better driver in the Jeep. Speed laws: obeyed! Traffic laws: obeyed! You can't get into too much trouble when your vehicle takes a minute, thinks about it, weighs all it's options, and asks a few questions before responding to your acceleration request.
2. I'm not going to lie. I feel a little bit more powerful driving the beast. It feels good to sit above those 4-door sedans, with their 4 cylinder engines and doors that close without squeaking.
3. I kind of like driving a car with some character. Jeep owners unite! A little rust on the bumper means she probably pulled your boat out of the lake a time or two. That dirt in the backseat testifies to her ability to haul your "stuff" from one place to another. And the deep layer of dust? Well that just means she's lived some life...and so have you and you're too busy still doing it to dust your car!

And Rusty has taught me some things too. Some were verbal lessons, others I picked up from my womanly ability to "sense" that which is not being said:

Other things I've learned from driving "his" Jeep:
1. Do not mess with the lights. (apparently they're automatic! Seriously, he's got to stop buying cars that are smarter than me!)
2. Do not mess with the seat. (I like to sit far enough away from the windshield, that should an accident occur, my face, and the makeup I painstakingly applied in the morning, will remain in tact)
3. Do not mess with the radio. (I needed a little Lite FM!)
4. Do not try to park the Jeep in the mud where Rusty parks the Jeep; you will just get mud all over the tires, which will come off on the driveway, which will drive him crazy and he will have to go out there with a shovel when you're on your way to the grocery store to scoop it off and throw it in the yard. It's funny because it's true!

Ahhh...the lessons of life!