December 2nd, 2005

I’ve never named a car. There will be no embelishments hanging from my rear view mirror either. No bumper stickers. Well, I do have a Baby on Board sign now. But that’s because I have a baby on board. Not that the sign will cause drivers to be any more considerate.

My dad always named his cars Betsy. After the queen. Of course. One brother named his first car Gwendolyn. I’m not sure if it was supposed to be a witchy name for a wicked car. But Gwendolyn it was. Another brother had a car that he named The Antichrist. Because nothing could kill it. It had seen many a collision and mishap. It just kept on going. And going. And going. The only thing that stopped it was that big car smasher thing that they have at the wrecking yard. It was a 60s or 70s Maverick. His roommates’s car was called Creeping Death. Maybe it’s more of a male thing, this naming of cars. Maybe it’s an emotional attachment thing.

My cars have been moderately nicknamed, though. The Truck. The Subie. The Benz. The Car. But that’s as far as it goes.

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4 Responses to “on cars and names”

blackbird Says:

I had an MG Midget named Midge.
But that was a long time ago.
I don’t think recent cars have had names —
the red car
dad’s truck
the little black volvo (which is too long to really use in conversation)
This new one seems to be nameless now that you mention it.

Daring Young Dad Says:

My dear departed powder blue ’94 sable was “The Flying Smurf”, or just “the smurf” for short. Or sometimes “big blue”, because it was rather large.

Perhaps it’s for the best that you don’t name them. Then you won’t feel so bad when you part ways.

Suse Says:

Just this morning, on the way to school, the boys were asking why people have Baby On Board signs. I explained that it was meant to make people more considerate and not crash into them.

Son #1 – well that one only has teenagers in it.
Me – ok, let’s crash into it!
Son #1 – and there’s one full of old people!
Me – (steering towards it) Hooray, we can crash into THAT one too!

And we spent a happy 10 minutes pretending to crash into any car not transporting babies.

Anonymous Says:

My car is Sybil. Sometimes you can get in, other times you can’t get out.
Sometimes the check engine comes on, sometimes it won’t. The right blinker blinks fine, the left blinks slow. The car runs great, but looks like crap. If this was a child, the school shrink would be seeking help.