The Drive of Our Lives



Susan with first car, Vega
 

MY FIRST CAR

Published Great South Bay Magazine

Today I can revisit and go down memory lane on the road less taken in my first car: a new 1974 Vega.  I purchased the new Vega together with my twin sister, Laura as joint ownership traveling on the path together in a joint ride and sharing the cost – share and share alike.

I look back returning to the day of our car shopping excursion to choose our first car - being twins we were more alike than unalike so agreeing on a car wouldn’t be a problem. There isn’t a need to essay the similarity of identical twins. Our wide eyes swept the showroom until we saw it – a red two door hatchback Vega. The car was compact, sporty and cute like us. It was the one.

Youthful naïve enthusiasm ruled out any further salesmanship on part of the fast-talking car salesman and the sale was made with little thought from us given to what was under the hood. We bid goodbye and got on the road traveling yet not really knowing our destination.

Alas, in a few years multiple car repairs exceeded the warranty until one day the 6-cyclinder engine’s silent lull was deafening.  It was the day the engine died. Cost to resuscitate the car exceeded the worth. This was about the same time Chevrolet agreed and discontinued the Vega production off their assemble line.

Thus, the road less taken in the Vega ended symbolizing my twin and me parting our ways also. It was time for my twin and me to move on in our own cars en route to adulthood. It was time to drive solo. Yet, there was no elation in our parting.

In the distance of separation of time from my first car I can look back without regrets charting the map of my journey in life.  There have been many roads taken since my Vega in other cars, yet my past roads followed me everywhere.

There is a need for distance from once a car merely chosen by “how cute it was” and learning to look under the hood for inner value, substance and drive. Essentially, I learned that it’s what is under the hood that matters most (in cars and people.)    

The days of the Vega’s passing brought an expected turn – essentially, I realize that when the Vega left my life had only begun. My first car took me on the roads less taken of my youth to get me where I am today. I have arrived.

  

written by Susan Marie Davniero

“THE DRIVE OF MY LIFE”
Published Great South Bay Magazine
 

It all began when I drove my first car taking me on the drive of my life. I drove on down the road in my new sporty 1974 red Vega hatchback. The wheels on the road fueled me to travel on as I sang along with the radio. I was young, willing and driven raring to go entering the car race of my life.  

I took in the sights from the road to entertain new ideas and raise my awareness to explore the streets of Long Island. Frankly, I got my street smarts along the way. I took to the road in all directions. The roads all lay before me. There was no end in sight to my trip traveling onward.

At the crossroads in life there has been a wrong turn, a bump in the road or detour along the way. Yet, I was able to ride out the storms. I felt I was accompanied by St. Christopher, the patron saint of travel, as my guardian angel.

Like a looking glass in the car’s rearview mirror I can see my past chasing me towards today. It’s been a long trip. There’s no turning back. My life today is a recycled model of that first car with the repairs and bodywork tainted by age.

As the calendar marked the passage of years since my first car, I can look back charting the map of a life’s journey.  My first car wasn’t my last for there has been many roads taken since in other cars. Yet I shall always remember my first. The first step is often the hardest. 

There is a need to distance from a time when a car was chosen simply by “how cute it was” to looking under the hood for inner value, mechanics and drive.  Essentially, I learned that it’s what is under the hood that matters most (in cars and people.) There are no short cuts in life. It’s been a trip of lifetime learning along the way.

What is owed to the story a life? Beyond what memory allows, the mileage is storage of the roads traveled.  

The story may have begun with the Vega, yet it didn’t end there. There are still places to go and things to see. I’m not out of gas yet. The past roads may be out of sight but not out of mind. Today I can drive by the roads of yesterday to drive for success. I intend to win the race. I’m going all the way on the drive of my life.

Throughout the seasons of my life I have driven onward. Today I am a seasoned traveler. All roads led to today. I have arrived.

written by Susan Marie Davniero

 





Published:  Great South Bay Magazine







(Photo attachment of Bob's first car (my) Vega)

 

Suddenly It’s Bob’s First Car

After we married from the start

My car was mine to part
Once my car from afar
Suddenly it’s Bob’s first car

I drove my car from singlehood

To my husband's neighborhood
Sometimes a first car known
Isn’t always your own

On the road from our home

We didn't travel alone
All roads before have led
To the many roads ahead

All the way through the years
Steering and shifting the gears
Our ride together as one
On the marriage run

Along the lifetime drive
We still have not arrived
Our marriage journey is set
The ride isn't over yet

Written by Susan Marie Davniero




My Husband Bob’s First Car

 

Sometimes your first car isn’t your own. My husband, Bob’s first car was my car! I can see the car now – it was a shiny new silver Vega sporty hatchback that I brought when I lived at home in Massapequa. My husband grew up in the city boroughs Brooklyn and Queens. His “wheels” for transportation was the public bus, subway or LIRR. In fact Bob often took the LIRR to meet me waiting in my car at the station. As the guy picking up the tab I gave Bob the keys and he drove.

All roads seem to have led us to this meeting, after being set up on a blind date by our mothers. After a speedy courtship, Bob was driven to propose on our third date. Although it seemed to be over the speed limit I said yes. I knew than to buckle up for the ride of a lifetime – marriage.
Although it may have been my car once before we married, after marriage my car became “ours” just as Bob’s bachelor pad became “our” home. Our lives were now adjoined, after marriage we became one – as the Scriptures say; "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." We didn’t travel alone anymore.

At one time, Bob’s job promotion afforded us a brand new car and we became a two car marriage. Yet, it didn’t last – we seem to be going our separate ways and the expense of two cars overwhelmed us. We were soon back to where we started from - sharing one car going the same way.

These days, we often carpool to work together. My husband, as breadwinner, takes the car to his job picking me up after work at my part time job. At the end of my work day, Bob arrives in a green Taurus. Bob is like my Prince Charming to take me away from all this. Sometimes Prince Charming’s “white horse” is a green Taurus.

Bob’s first car was not his last, but the first car together drove our marriage to last a lifetime. Perhaps, the secret to a long happy marriage may just be in sharing one car taking the same path in life together and going in the same direction. There are still many roads ahead that we haven’t traveled on yet - the ride of a lifetime together is not over yet.

- Written by Susan Marie Davniero

CARS OF BOB & SUSAN