Russ's Ravings: I Bought My 10-Year-Old A Convertible

Long Valley NJ

19 February, 2021

10:30 AM

Description

Editor's note: The following is Patch Field Editor Russ Crespolini's, hopefully, weekly column. It is reflective of his opinion alone. When I was an overweight, anxious tween with flagging self esteem my father asked me what kind of car I wanted when I got my license. I had just seen a really terrible movie called "The Heavenly Kid" and one subplot involves the protagonist getting a spike in popularity when he restores a classic convertible. "I want a Mustang convertible," I answered without missing a beat. "You're too fat for a Mustang," he replied, also without missing a beat. My father is a mechanic by trade, who had a long career managing service departments. One day he told me he had a lead on a car. The car in question was a completely rusted out 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 convertible with an eight cylinder 289 engine. It required an off-frame restoration and years of work that began that day with an initial $900 investment. That cherry-apple red beast was a huge part of my childhood and my adulthood. I ended up selling it to pay for a new furnace a few years ago. But working on that car was a foundation piece for my relationship with my father. On a recent trip to Florida, at my daughter's request, we rented a convertible Mustang. Driving around in it reminded me of my childhood and of those times working on it with my father. When we were leaving Florida my daughter said how she would love an old Mustang as her first car. So after discussing it with my wife and with my father I began a search, knowing I had years to find something affordable that fit the bill. And two days later I found one. A couple decades old, low mileage and in need of some TLC. So for about twice my $900 Galaxie's cost, my daughter's Mustang was purchased requiring no major issues to resolve and six years to enjoy while we work out the kinks. So why write about it? Because if this pandemic year has taught me something that not even my brain tumor did. It taught me that we are guaranteed absolutely nothing in this life. And right now my father, my daughter and I have an opportunity to make memories we might not have the opportunity to make in I had waited. So go on that trip. Take that cooking class. Join that softball league. Volunteer at a rec department. Or buy your 10-year-old a Mustang convertible. Living life with few regrets begins by taking risks. Russ Crespolini is a Field Editor for Patch Media, adjunct professor and college newspaper advisor. His columns have won awards from the National Newspaper Association and the New Jersey Press Association. He writes them in hopes of connecting with readers and engaging with them. And because it is cheaper than therapy. He can be reached at [email protected]