The New Millenia..as in Mazda

Yesterday had to be one of the happiest days of my life. Big Daddy and I presented Precious Son with his very own vehicle. The look on that boy’s face will reside within my heart for as long as I live.

Big Daddy and I had been keeping an eye out for a good car for Precious Son, but we had not found “the one”. Yesterday took us to Frankfort to look at a friend’s side business of car sales. There she was…

2002 Mazda Millenia. Metallic Gold. Sunroof. All Leather Interior. Bose stereo. New tires. 6 CD In-Dash Player. Cruise Control. Power Windows, Locks, and a Remote Starter.

Even cupholders.

Nice.

We went to the Party Store and bought big, red bows along with one of those flashy, tabletop decorations that had auto racing colors and flags cascading down with a LOT of silvery, aluminum strips screaming “tacky, but cool!!!”.

Big Daddy and I worked out this plan where we would park the car in front of the high school because we pick up our kids in the back after band practice. This was already a big night because it was Band Night at Chik Fil-A where 20% of sales go to the marching band. Oh, the tension in the air! Anyway, we parked the car in front of the school, decorated it with the tacky but cool bows and a gynormous green balloon. (Green is Precious Son’s favorite color.) We then drove around back in my Suburban and waited.

We waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Finally, at 6:15pm, some of the kids began filing out. Big Daddy and I were beside ourselves! We had asked Precious Son’s girlfriend’s mom if she could bring Girlfriend to the front of the school because we knew Precious Son would want her to be the first to see his new ride. We were all in the parking lot exchanging text messages as Precious Son and Girlfriend were the absolute LAST to come out from the school. Beautiful Daughter had already made it to the truck…finally, here came Precious Son.

We had plenty of time for the usual exchanges such as “how was your day?” and “do you have any homework?”, because it takes for-ev-er to leave the parking lot. After the idle chitchat, Big Daddy asked what we should do for dinner, as if he had forgotten about Chik Fil-A.

The kids were quick to point out Spirit Night and then Big Daddy, as we had rehearsed, vocalized his neeeeeeeeeeeeeed for oysters and it was indeed oyster night at the seafood place. I suggested Big Daddy get his oysters “to go” and then we could all eat at Chik Fil-A. I then faked a phone-in order to The Ketch and we went down in front of the school, heading that way…

The car came into sight…all decked out with the biggest balloon made in the world and tacky but cool red bows along with the tribute to NASCAR tabletop spray. Fighting all that was within me to NOT scream out “THERE’S YOUR NEW CAR, PRECIOUS SON!!!!”, I stuck to the script:

“Well, looky there. Someone got a new car today! Do you all know who got the new car?”

The kids both chimed in with a “no, Mom” taking that question as one more piece of evidence that they are both abused and mistreated because they have to ride the bus to school…

Then, just as we rehearsed it, Big Daddy turned around to Precious Son and tossed him the keys saying, “Hey, Buddy, why not try these keys and see if they fit?”

As I said, the look on that boy’s face will reside within my heart for as long as I live.

Precious Son barely let me put the Suburban in “park” before he bounded out of the vehicle and ran over to check out his first car. To say he was excited is quite possibly the biggest understatement in the history of mankind. Precious Son continually thanked his dad and I as he jumped in and tried out the adjustable seats, power windows, and stereo, of course. Girlfriend hopped into the passenger side and they both posed for me and my camera with looks of sheer joy. I was giddy from their happiness. We all were. Lucy and her family were there along with one of Beautiful Daughter’s best friends. We were all just as excited for Precious Son as he was for himself.

Giving your child their very first car may seem like a “normal” thing or a “rite of passage” without much emotionalism attached to it, but this was not the case for either Big Daddy or myself. This is the car that will take our baby boy away from us…away to college…away to adulthood and his own life. This is the car we will watch him drive away in, packed to the roof with UK basketball posters, Denver Bronco duffel bags, and brand new bedding to go on his college dorm mattress.

In actuality, we just gave Precious Son the means to leave home, leave us. I pray it is a safe journey every time he takes the wheel whether it is to pick up some Cheezits and Mountain Dew or to take the love of his life to their special place so that he can propose.

We didn’t just give Precious Son a car yesterday, we gave him permission to become a grown up…

Dear God, please continue to prepare my heart for the day Precious Son leaves for college and adulthood. Please keep him in Your care and allow him to feel Your presence. I pray he seeks Your will and Your way. Please continue to guide and direct his father and I so that our words and deeds reflect Your love. This is my son, God, the very reason I exist. Please protect and keep him safe, happy, healthy, and in Your will. Amen.