Tuesday, August 28, 2007

The Bretheren of the minivan

Today, as I was driving along, I passed a minivan going in the other direction. Same make and model as mine. I had the urge to wave to the other minivan, a bit of minivan camaraderie. I started wondering why minivan drivers DON'T wave to each other. Motorcyclists will wave as they pass each other. A little salute to fellow riders, a nod to how cool they are. It's as though they are all in a club together. We own a 1971 Volkswagen Super beetle. It's the same with that. If one of us is driving it, and we pass another beetle driver, or even just a Volkswagen driver, you wave a little or nod your head. An acknowledgment of the commonality you two have.

Why is it not this way with minivans? Are we not all the same? Are we not all driving along, in our family wagon, our grocery getter as my friend calls it. Aren't living the same lives. There are ultimately cheerios spilled on a seat, some time a childhood paraphernalia in the back, a petrified chicken nugget fallen and lost under a seat somewhere. Aren't we all in a rush, trying to get it all done. Aren't we wishing we could listen to our own music, tired of listening to the Wiggles Live CD yet again. I realize there are a few exceptions. Grandparents are buying minivans now, and sometimes the drivers are teenagers taking their parent's very uncool vehicle for a drive. But mostly, we all know what the others are going through. Maybe we should acknowledge it. Maybe we should smile. Hell, as parents, what we should do, is just stop the vans, get out, and give each other a hug. Lord knows one of us probably needs it. As my friend said today, every day is annoy mom day.

Speaking of teenagers driving their parents minivan. Another thought occurred to me. Minivans are wasted on the responsible. I could fit 6 of my closest friends, a cooler a food and a big ass cooler of beer in my minivan, along with a small suitcase for each of us. It would be a tight fit, but who cares. Here's the thing. I can't go anywhere. I have too many kids. How often am I really going to do a road trip. But when I was younger, early 20s, that would have been the life.

Imagine, you're 21, you have your boyfriend and two other couples in the car. You each have a bag packed for the beach. All you need is a small bag because all you need is a towel, your string bikini, and a bottle of suntan oil. skin cancer be damned, you're too young to think of that. In your cooler is filled to the brim with PBR and ice. The music is playing, and you're all singing along to something like Boys of Summer from Don Henley. It's an old tune, but everyone knows it. There is laughter, there is bad singing, there is the freedom of kids who don't have any clue what lays ahead, and don't really care yet.

But no, when we're kids, we think cool cars are the way to go. Little economical 4cylinder coupes or sedans. A civic, a carolla, or if you're really cool, a nice little sports car. We wanna COOOOL. Listen to me now kids, the minivan is the way to go. Trust me on this.

Plus, when you're old and have a gaggle of kids, it's one more disappointment you can avoid. It's not so hard to get of that cute little sports car and trade it in for a minivan when you don't know any different.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hilarious! I think I'll wave next time I pass a minivan. But usually I'm too busy getting run off the road. Minivans get no respect...none. But I'll drag anyone. Bring 'em on!

Dianne said...

it's because those of use who drive VW's and bikes are cooler than those of use who drive mini vans lol