Going Karmental

I recently ran into my college RA who felt it necessary to remind me that I was somewhat of a rebel during my early college days.  The notion that I was a rebel was not particularly new to me, the fact that SHE knew I was a rebel was somewhat surprising though.  Shari was always nice and I don’t remember ever getting into trouble.  But there’s a lot I don’t remember from those years.  She reminded me of the time I managed to park my car ON TOP of the chain barrier fence and had to enlist the aid of some football players to rescue Yoshi (my yellow Mazda stationwagon) from its perch atop the fence.  After that stunt, I should have majored in physics.

My next vehicle was Guido, a cute little red 1975 VW Rabbit with 100+K miles on him.  Guido was a legend on the streets of Fargo/Moorhead during the 80’s.  His floor boards had fallen victim to the elements and were rusted thin.  As my friend Julie stepped into the car one day, her foot landed on pavement.  From that point on, a rubber floor mat separated the inside of Guido from the outside of Guido.   Driving in rainstorms created quite the mess as the road spray made its way into the passenger compartment.

The beginning of a new quarter of classes sent me to the bookstore to stock up on about $200 worth of books and supplies.  On my way home, a little blue Nissan cut me off, forcing me to slam on the brakes.  Most of the books I had just purchased flew off the passenger seat and onto what should have been a floor.  The rubber mat was no match for the books and gave way, spilling them onto the moving street below.  Moments later, I returned to the scene, parked the car, and proceeded to do the shuttle run collecting my books as cars careened by me.  With all my supplies safely stowed in the trunk, I once again went on my merry way.  Me and Guido.

About a year later, I was awakened at 0530 by a phone call from the Fargo Police Department.  Apparently there was an officer in my parking lot that needed to speak with me.  I nervously threw on some sweats and headed out the door to meet him.  When I got outside, I found Guido laying on his roof, all four wheels to the sky, back hatch sprung open, and all my junk laying in the parking lot.  That’s not how I left it a few hours earlier (although there are people who would swear that if anyone could park a car upside down, it would probably be me).  The officer and I took turns staring at Guido and then each other, wondering how he was going to get uprighted again.  Once a tow truck arrived, the driver, the cop and I tipped Guido back onto his wheels.  I was nervous to drive him after all the battery acid and other fluids had been dumped.  Sadly, this was the beginning of the end of my relationship with dear old Guido.  I don’t know if it was seeing Guido’s raw underbelly that made me uncomfortable, or if we were just growing apart.  I felt like I needed something a bit faster, sleeker, and with a patent floor.  Besides, his pranks were not making me look so good.

I never did find out how Guido landed on his back that night.  Maybe I should give Shari a call and see if she knows.