My first car

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My first car was a 1964 Ford Galaxy. This was in 1988, so it wasn't exactly a new car. I do remember being very proud of it though. My parents got me a loan at the bank and I had to pay the note every month. It was less than $100 a month, which I now realize must have been because my (step) Dad made it so. He had a way about him in banks. He always got what he wanted. :-)

Paying that note was a great learning experience for me. I highly recommend it. It gave me a sense of pride to work and pay for my own ride. I valued it more than if it had just been a gift. The car I earned, the experience of paying for it myself was the gift.

Another thing I remember, this old car did not have power steering. Talk about a workout for my arms! Hmm, maybe I need a car like that now.....

It also had only an A.M. radio that basically picked up nothing. So I kept a cassette player in the car for music. It looked a lot like this:

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I kept it under the front seat. Don't ask me why. One night, as I was driving home down a dirt road, an armadillo ran in front of my car. He looked like this:

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Only not that cute. He looked BIG. And I hit him with the car. I knew it was going to happen and I hit the brakes, hard. And just as he made a sicking thump under my car, that dang cassette player slid out from under my seat and hit my feet. For a full minute I just KNEW he was in the car with me! I screamed a very unladylike scream. Then I sat and waited for my heart to start beating again. Then I laughed hysterically...for at least 3 minutes.

I never forgot that night, or that car. I eventually moved on to a "newer" used car, but I have never forgotten the joy (and fear) of my 1st.

**this post was written for the Group Blogging Experience. I have really enjoyed the challenge it presents to write about all kinds of topics. I highly recommend it for anyone who blogs, is looking for a challenge, and is sometimes at a loss for a topic!