I got a taste of spring in Lisbon this weekend, and it was GLORIOUS. I was able to wear shorts and short sleeves, so my thigh meat was out a little bit. It was a gorgeous weekend. Typically, the first day the temperature is over 75°, I used to blast DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith’s “Summertime” with all of my windows down with an open moonroof. I don’t miss having a car, but it would have been the perfect opportunity to summon the summer weather this weekend with my quintessential tune.
Mom picked me up from SACC, a before- and after-school childcare program in Fairfax County, VA. It was a warm day, and my parents had recently purchased what I think was a 1991 or 1992 Chevy Blazer. The rear windows were tinted, and the interior was charcoal velour. I remember it still had the new car smell.
Mom walked me out of the main doors leading to the SACC classroom at Brookfield Elementary; she said, “I have a surprise for you!”
I didn’t know what the surprise could be…a matchbox car, a new Lego set?? I didn’t know what it could have been, but I was bursting with excitement. As we climbed into the blazer, she opened the moonroof and turned the radio up, playing “Summertime.” She had a massive smile on her face, and that made me smile. My smile became a laugh when another mother picking up her child looked on in bewilderment.
When I was driving down I-85 South in Atlanta, you can count on one thing. My music was going to be pumping. When I started organizing, I had so much stuff, and I didn’t want to get a storage unit and have to house all of my equipment and accessories. I had no storage in my house, so I got a second car. I had the opportunity to have a different car, but I found this Gold 2008 Scion xB Special Edition in Pennsylvania. I already had a red 2013 Scion xB, but I always thought the car would have been perfect if it had a moonroof. The special edition had just that- it is extremely rare for an xB to have a moonroof, even on a special edition. I love cars, and every vehicle I’ve purchased has always been an expression of me. People either loved or hated the gold color, but it fit my personality perfectly. Come on- who doesn’t want to drive a literal box down the highway? It also reminded me of cruising with my mom, music pumping in her yellow 1982 Volvo 242 DL. I definitely lived out my gold car phase-it was hard to let go of, but I didn’t want to hold on to a car that would sit in the States while I was out of the country. It felt right to sell it to a guy getting a divorce from his husband, and they shared a car…now, he was getting his freedom.
A car has always been a symbol of freedom for me. It was a way to get me to the beach, one of my favorite places to recharge. It was a safe place to eat when my social meter was depleted. The back seat provided Xola with comfort after returning from a vet visit. However, walking is my primary method of transportation now and it carries a different energy. More planning is involved, and the weather has a more significant effect on where I go. I can window shop easily and walk up to a beautifully tiled façade of a building to admire the details of the tile.
My freedom looks a little different now. It’s mainly about doing things, being around people, and being intentional with situations and experiences that make the inner self feel like it can be at home. It’s about getting rid of beliefs that limited me or driven by my insecurities. It’s a reminder that I am complete right now and that everything in my life is due to the intentionality of my decisions.
I saw the essence of Mom at that moment when she turned the volume dial up. I couldn’t help but smile ear to ear because I was lucky to have a glimpse into how beautiful Mom’s soul was. That moment shared with her is something that I hold on tightly to today, especially when Will Smith says, “Drums Please” at the start of “Summertime.” I may not have a car anymore, but today, I turn the dial up on the volume on my trusty Bluetooth speaker in my short sleeves and shorts and summon the warmth of this beautiful day in Lisbon.
I love you too 💜💙
Your mom was definitely a force! I miss her & love you! 🤍🤍