The Many Faces of Freedom

We all have our own individual definitions of freedom and freedom comes in many forms.

I’m pretty sure on a large scale we all immediately think of the “big ones,” the ones we are guaranteed in the United States Constitution as far as speech, press, being able to bear arms, etc.

It is not my intent with this post to get into a political discussion. It is my intent to share with you, a form of freedom that I didn’t even realize I was missing until recently.

You see, when we left California, almost two years ago, I had been driving a leased car that was about due to go back to the dealer as the lease was near it’s end. The timing was actually quite nice since we were set to leave only a month before my lease expired.

We brought with us to Mississippi the car my husband had been driving. Shortly after our arrival, it became apparent that we really needed a truck because we had no means to haul anything, and it felt like we were always hauling something. So, we traded in the 2013 Subaru for a GMC Canyon truck. We love the truck even though it’s bright red and not our preferred color.

Anyhoo, about 7 months ago, my husband accepted a job he was offered, which meant he would no longer be working with me at the inn, but rather at a different location. Yes folks, that meant he took the truck to work every day. Thus leaving me . . . well . . . carless. I haven’t been carless in like, oh I don’t know, 36 years.

At first it wasn’t really that big of a deal. Being “stuck” at home wasn’t so bad. I mean, I am a writer and what a better excuse to sit my  butt down and write right? It’s not like I can go anywhere. Well, I can go places, but I’d have to walk, which isn’t so bad except for the rain and the heat and the hills. And I’d have to carry everything with just my own two hands. So, not really a viable option. (The woman in the picture below makes it look like struggling with all that stuff is enjoyable, but we all know, it is NOT.)

Well, as time went on, it became apparent that I really do need a car after all. (Refer to the picture of the woman above.) There’s hardly a day goes by when I don’t need to run somewhere; the supermarket, the bank, the drug store, the pet store, and the list goes on. I was always having to rely on my dad (who lives around the corner) for transportation IF he didn’t have somewhere else to go or something else to do. And, he always carries around lawnmowers, weed eaters, gallons of gasoline and oil and paint buckets and other such crap stuff, in his car so it’s always full of dirty yucky equipment and gross smells. Not to mention the seat is always filthy and I need to put a towel down before I get in.

Well, not anymore my friends! No sirree, not anymore. I have my FREEDOM back.

I am now the proud owner of a new-to-me vehicle. That’s right. I can come and go as I please, when I please, in a sparkly clean, fresh-smelling awesome car. Freedom is a good thing.

Photo by P. Rickrode. June 2017.

Now before you go thinking I getting above my station driving around in a shiny red Mercedes Benz, let me say, it is USED. It’s a 2013 C250 with 66,500 miles on it. But, it is in pristine condition. Only one tiny ding and one tiny chipped paint area on the outside. Nothing on the inside. Super squeaky clean. (That white spot on the hood, next to the emblem, in this photo is just a reflection.)

The best part? It was well within in my budget and we got a really good interest rate. Score!!

Freedom – it’s all it’s cracked up to be.

When was the last time you got a new car? How long have you ever gone without having transportation of your own? Have you ever owned a Mercedes?

Word of the day: Quivive

Fun fact about me: I’m really learning to like red cars.

Original post by Jansen Schmidt, June 2017. Photos courtesy Google images and P. Rickrode.