Out with it. Out.

[opabinia]

My parents bought me a car for Christmas. Now, before you go off and start thinking all those things I might think if someone's parents bought them a car under most conditions, never mind at my age, let me reassure you: The circumstances are truly fucked.

Latin American housewives are, by deeply-rooted tradition, fatalistic. My mother has a life-threatening illness. She assumes it's going to kill her. She leans on my father, talking about how everyone in Puerto Rico buys their kid a car (far from true, and besides, I'm old) and how I'm really in a tight spot and I need their help (far from true -- the Swedish Brick still runs, and I'm paying all the bills), and how it's best for me to enjoy what little inheritance I have coming before they kick the bucket anyway (This isn't morbid at all.). My father, who knows better than to disagree under these circumstances, plunks down a deposit on a shiny new Honda before I even know this plan is in the works.

I would have been a moron to turn this down, for several reasons, at least a few of them quite unselfish (and I'm tired of typing them all out in private entries, so ask me in person); so now I have a 2004 Honda Civic LX Coupe, 5-spd, black, with a black interior. I had the dealer install a LoJack, so the whole thing cost me $700 plus insurance. I will concentrate on how awesome that is, and avoid counterproductive thoughts about how and why I got it.

I've had it for nearly a month, and it's the best freaking car I could possibly own right now: agile, practical, sporty, tight, reliable, pretty, cheap to fix, comfortable, and subtle.

It comes with a 1.7L, 115hp, 110lbs-ft, SOHC, non-VTEC engine. The 2.4L, 200hp, 166lbs-ft, DOHC, i-VTEC engine from the Acura TSX sedan would not be an especially difficult swap for an experienced Honda garage.

Comments

[eeyrg.livejournal.com]

so technically: is this a guilt present or a gratitude present? :)

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Neither. I think this is an "If I die, I want him to remember me fondly" present, which is just... ugh. She should be fine -- I haven't heard anything to really get freaked out about. We're still waiting for histo results, but I'm optimistic.

[subatomicsatan.livejournal.com]

r0q!

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

r1c3!

[sheepzeit.livejournal.com]

I think that's really cool of them, and mainly because I think we all know you're not a spoiled whiney kid dependent on his parents for everything.

Hondas are great cars. I don't think I've seen one die of old age.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

know you're not a spoiled whiney kid[...]

It's that, combined with an irrational feeling that I don't earn what I have (hello, typical depressed-head thinking), that bugs me, aside from the illness/fatalism thing. Thanks for the reassurance. :)

Hondas are great cars.

Yep. They've come a lonnng way.

[bottleimp.livejournal.com]

"Latin American housewives are, by deeply-rooted tradition, fatalistic."

No shit. first it helps Cortes kill them, then it gets you a car. Congrats.
Are you still pussylegging or are you lifting yet? :)

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

first it helps Cortes kill them, then it gets you a car.

I'm seriously!

Are you still pussylegging or are you lifting yet?

I'm easing back into things. I'm in pretty sad shape, but I'm reasonably sure that it's partly in my head. It'll click.

[rojagato.livejournal.com]

I don't care about the baggage. It's really fucking fun to drive.

Okay, okay, maybe the baggage helps a little with the danger part, but it's still fucking cool. Love, your really sick housemate.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

I don't care about the baggage. It's really fucking fun to drive.

Hmm. Maybe I should hide that spare key.

Okay, okay, maybe the baggage helps a little with the danger part

Color me dense: What's "the danger part?" And don't worry, I'm pretty sick too. :)