I think this is also Generational. My Opa could and would fix anything. He was a mechanic, and he figured out how to fix all our things. He also spent time at the local hardware store chatting up the employees and asking if there was anything for clearance in the back. He would buy the paint that was mixed wrong and be a horrible colour. Our cabin was made with parts and paint found at the back of Beaver Lumber and an old Canadian hardware store. And it was perfect.
I bet that horrible color paint looked amazing with the right light and a bit of Opa magic. I agree that generation had a magic touch when it came to making things work.
It’s actually existential when itemized objects something as simple as a car become something else transcending and identifying to us and who we are.
In my country anyone drives a car here is considered that rich and if you don’t drive a car, you’re considered to be born into society with absolutely nothing to offer. I think generally cars have always been a means of identity and a trail path of our journey.
Cars can carry so much symbolism, especially when access is unequal. What starts as a mode of transport becomes a marker of status, identity, even perceived worth. It says a lot about the values we inherit from society. It is like this in Trinidad too.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend sis and thank you :)
Hi Ral! I think American culture likely glamorizes cars too much. I think it creates an environment where young adults who have little money or possessions strive to have a nicer car, so they can point to it as their prize possession. It can lead to young adults with little income overspending on an item whose value will quickly depreciate. I also think financial literacy in American is far too low, but that’s another conversation for another day. Hope the rest of yours is lovely!
Wow, those are some pretty sweet rides! A guy I used to know had a black one, fully loaded with leather seats, cool colored lights inside, crazy loud sound system. And if I’m remembering right, he even had massage seats. Way cool setup. So, which one do you have? The G70, 80, or 90?
When Substack elder bro n sis come together, it can only mean magic woven in words. I love how you took a car and took us on a journey through the twists and turns of life❤️✨
Oh! That would be a dream😍😍. Would LOVE to meet u sometime metaphors aside! The legend of Neela😍😍❤️. Thank you! Next week is the last week of my 4 part session😄
Another great article Neela. When you wrote about things in Trinidad being fixed and running decades later I immediately thought of the seaplanes that connect our small islands to Vancouver which are old de Havilland Otters and Beavers that haven’t been manufactured for more than 60 years. I remember sitting once next to the pilot, noting the manufacturing date stamped into the control panel if 1947 and starting to freak. He calmly said there are 3 companies that make complete replacement parts for the planes
I also thought it was perfect that your car died on a road in New Jersey. I hate NJ which seems to have the most number of confusing freeways and highways in the world
You sat next to the pilot of a 1947 plane? That’s either the best adventure story or the start of a panic attack for me. My husband took one of those planes to Cortez, Colorado. He was terrified.
And as for Jersey, I still don’t know how I made it off that highway alive. It’s where GPS signals and logic both go to die.
Thank you for this thoughtful statement on the paradox of the conscientious consumer! I think the desire of which you speak keeps many of us on the aspirational plane, which counters the sometimes humdrum nature of daily existence.
There are so many things presented to us (or whimsically discovered) that aren’t needs.
However, I do see real value in curating an aesthetic in our lives - our aesthetic, for our lives - which can enliven the spirit. May we be ever mindful in such pursuits!
And now I know more about Genesis, Suits, marketing, and the Tribunal than ever before. It's great to see your collaboration, and to enjoy this ride.
I drove a 2002 Saturn (used) for over 15 years until we donated it in 2022. Now my Camry is only 11 years old, so that tells you something about my Tribunal.
Hans I had a Saturn SC2 in the late 90s that I absolutely loved. Wish I could have driven it longer, it was sideswiped and totaled by another driver not paying attention. Grrrrr…Saturns seemed to be a bit hit or miss in terms of quality, but certain years and models seemed to be near bulletproof.
People have a weird/interesting relationship with their cars. I think in many ways, our car says a lot about ourselves and where we are in our lives. I know that in the 90s, I had a crap job, not a lot of money, but I had a car I loved, and that made a lot of the other stuff that I didn’t like about my life, seem worth it. Yeah, thats probably way too materialistic of a take, but here I am lol. I think a lot of people can relate to how your car fits into your life and becomes something more than just another purchase. Thanks for sharing, as only you can.
Not materialistic at all, bro, just honest. Sometimes, cars offer a little sanctuary. Just jump in your car for a cool drive. It was the easiest way to chill out in Trinidad.
I think this is also Generational. My Opa could and would fix anything. He was a mechanic, and he figured out how to fix all our things. He also spent time at the local hardware store chatting up the employees and asking if there was anything for clearance in the back. He would buy the paint that was mixed wrong and be a horrible colour. Our cabin was made with parts and paint found at the back of Beaver Lumber and an old Canadian hardware store. And it was perfect.
I bet that horrible color paint looked amazing with the right light and a bit of Opa magic. I agree that generation had a magic touch when it came to making things work.
Thank you for taking the time Dinah….
Nope, it was ugly. This puke brown. LOL. But it was super functional, and it grew on us over the years!
Ah I can’t upload a photo in the comments.
Substack needs to make some updates to their interface lol
Thank you for sharing in the DMs
I loved the way you said nah “it was ugly.”
lol. Being pretty wasn’t the point. Being functional was. It was just a fact. lol.
It’s actually existential when itemized objects something as simple as a car become something else transcending and identifying to us and who we are.
In my country anyone drives a car here is considered that rich and if you don’t drive a car, you’re considered to be born into society with absolutely nothing to offer. I think generally cars have always been a means of identity and a trail path of our journey.
Cars can carry so much symbolism, especially when access is unequal. What starts as a mode of transport becomes a marker of status, identity, even perceived worth. It says a lot about the values we inherit from society. It is like this in Trinidad too.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend sis and thank you :)
I never used to see it like that or even looked deep into it's essence. Good to know now sis
Hi Ral! I think American culture likely glamorizes cars too much. I think it creates an environment where young adults who have little money or possessions strive to have a nicer car, so they can point to it as their prize possession. It can lead to young adults with little income overspending on an item whose value will quickly depreciate. I also think financial literacy in American is far too low, but that’s another conversation for another day. Hope the rest of yours is lovely!
Wow, those are some pretty sweet rides! A guy I used to know had a black one, fully loaded with leather seats, cool colored lights inside, crazy loud sound system. And if I’m remembering right, he even had massage seats. Way cool setup. So, which one do you have? The G70, 80, or 90?
Happy Friday Bette
The G70
It is in pristine condition.
We would have no trouble selling if we need to move asap.
Thank you so much for taking the time :)
When Substack elder bro n sis come together, it can only mean magic woven in words. I love how you took a car and took us on a journey through the twists and turns of life❤️✨
Take a drive with me sis :)
Thank you so much for taking the time and best of luck on session #2 :)
Oh! That would be a dream😍😍. Would LOVE to meet u sometime metaphors aside! The legend of Neela😍😍❤️. Thank you! Next week is the last week of my 4 part session😄
Oh my goodness.
I've lost track of the weeks 🤣
Time flies when you're having fun ❤️
Another great article Neela. When you wrote about things in Trinidad being fixed and running decades later I immediately thought of the seaplanes that connect our small islands to Vancouver which are old de Havilland Otters and Beavers that haven’t been manufactured for more than 60 years. I remember sitting once next to the pilot, noting the manufacturing date stamped into the control panel if 1947 and starting to freak. He calmly said there are 3 companies that make complete replacement parts for the planes
I also thought it was perfect that your car died on a road in New Jersey. I hate NJ which seems to have the most number of confusing freeways and highways in the world
You sat next to the pilot of a 1947 plane? That’s either the best adventure story or the start of a panic attack for me. My husband took one of those planes to Cortez, Colorado. He was terrified.
And as for Jersey, I still don’t know how I made it off that highway alive. It’s where GPS signals and logic both go to die.
Thank you so much for taking the time.
Happy Friday, David.
Thank you for this thoughtful statement on the paradox of the conscientious consumer! I think the desire of which you speak keeps many of us on the aspirational plane, which counters the sometimes humdrum nature of daily existence.
There are so many things presented to us (or whimsically discovered) that aren’t needs.
However, I do see real value in curating an aesthetic in our lives - our aesthetic, for our lives - which can enliven the spirit. May we be ever mindful in such pursuits!
“May we be ever mindful in such pursuits”
a perfect closing line.
I agree 100% KC. Creating a life that reflects our values and tastes can be a rebellion against excess and a celebration of intention.
That was the hardest article to write because it was about a car. It felt a bit ick to me.
I am so happy it was well received.
Happy weekend, friend.
I was so enamored by the play between Suits LA and Genesis. It was amazing to see and supremely well done.
That being said, I'm also not a car person. When I lived in Seattle, I did not have one and it was a glorious 12 months.
And I love the concept of the USA as: the place where things are are born to die!
I did not drive for 15 years when I lived in NYC hahahaha. I didn’t need to. It was glorious. Thank you for reading Jason. I hope you had a good week.
Happy Friday!
It has been a good week and I hope your weekend is even better and not filled with driving.....
I don't see any driving in my future haha
Glad you had a good week.
Thank you, Jason.
And now I know more about Genesis, Suits, marketing, and the Tribunal than ever before. It's great to see your collaboration, and to enjoy this ride.
I drove a 2002 Saturn (used) for over 15 years until we donated it in 2022. Now my Camry is only 11 years old, so that tells you something about my Tribunal.
Clearly your Tribunal knows how to make a dollar stretch and a car last.
Frankly, that’s more impressive than most C-suite decisions I’ve witnessed lately bro.
Thank you for taking the time.
I know today was busy for you.
Have a great evening.
Hans I had a Saturn SC2 in the late 90s that I absolutely loved. Wish I could have driven it longer, it was sideswiped and totaled by another driver not paying attention. Grrrrr…Saturns seemed to be a bit hit or miss in terms of quality, but certain years and models seemed to be near bulletproof.
"That's the thing about the American Dream. It promises arrival. But rarely tells you that arrival isn't a destination but a recurring illusion."
Very well said, Neela. And the illusion is wearing very thin of late.
Maybe it was never a dream, just a very well-marketed grind hahahaha
Happy Friday, Eve Baird.
Thank you for taking the time.
Neela, Only you could write a story about buying a car and make it interesting. 🙏🏽
I literally wrote this in my restack before I reached the comments section 😄
LOL
The highest compliment Jeanne
Thank you for reading.
Happy Friday eve - woot woot.
I really like how you disentangle consumerism from what it means to you and how your values make it mean something else
It was so weird using a car of all things to do this.
This was one of those articles I wasn’t sure about but I decided to run with it anyway.
Thank you so much Kim for the unwavering support.
Happy Thursday to you.
People have a weird/interesting relationship with their cars. I think in many ways, our car says a lot about ourselves and where we are in our lives. I know that in the 90s, I had a crap job, not a lot of money, but I had a car I loved, and that made a lot of the other stuff that I didn’t like about my life, seem worth it. Yeah, thats probably way too materialistic of a take, but here I am lol. I think a lot of people can relate to how your car fits into your life and becomes something more than just another purchase. Thanks for sharing, as only you can.
Not materialistic at all, bro, just honest. Sometimes, cars offer a little sanctuary. Just jump in your car for a cool drive. It was the easiest way to chill out in Trinidad.
Thank you for being such a kind and generous host, bro.
I truly appreciate you.
Thank you sis. Am honored to have your storytelling class up the place from time to time :)