Roweena
by D.O.
As I continue my series of posts on things that happened before my readers knew me well, I’m led to a place that, if left undiscussed, would keep you from knowing a very important part of my life: my first car. Her name was Roweena, and she was a 1966 Mustang GT, 289-K, full of majesty and grace. She sounded so good thanks to Flowmaster (whose sticker remains on my calculator to this day), and she was swifter off the line than any car I’ve driven since. She was stubborn as all get out, and she never liked to work in the rain. Well, she’d work for about half a mile or so, then she’d start being stubborn, leaving me to push her to the nearest parking lot countless times – in the rain of course. Roweena also boasted a drop down air conditioning unit (a luxury item at the time) that would spit poorly drained water from condensation on the front seat’s occupants upon every 90 degree turn of the car. This was especially nice on extremely hot days, and when I was taking my formally dressed date to gymnastics banquet. Roweena didn’t exactly make it to college though. Her stubbornness, refusal to stay fixed, and terrible gas mileage outweighed her beauty, strength, and honor. This should come as little surprise to those who know me now though – functionality before aestheticism, and frugality before appeal.
Comments
I speak from experience, you will always miss your first car. Mine was a ’71 Monte Carlo. I feel your pain about the troubles Roweena used to give us but I treasure those and the good times with her. Some of my favorite memories of things you and I shared had to do with that car.
dad
If only I could have ridden in such a hot item to my “gymnastics banquet” in high school…
i didnt ride to any of our gymnastics banquets with you..but we did ride to and from meets and the such in that sweet ride! it def fit your style back then. your bike fits your style now!