Once I was cool, now I am happy.

I will NEVER drive a minivan. Can you hear your 15 year old self, 25 year old self etc say it?  Age really has nothing to do with considering a minivan.  I think it has more to do with having kids.  I think many people, even with a bundle of kids won't consider a minivan simply for the reputation.  With a 3 month old and a toddler, I now drive a minivan.  I adore this car.  Every single detail has been thought out and planned to make life easier for parents.  It drives like a luxury vehicle as my husband loves to say.  Oh the space!  There is so much space for everything including my double stroller! Yet, as we pulled out of the dealership I felt myself having a slight panic attack.  I. drive. a minivan.  It felt like I had handed over the tiny bit of youth I had been holding onto. As I drove into our neighborhood for the first time in the spanking new minivan inhaling the new car smell, I rolled down the window prepared to wave and honk at a neighbor.  Then as I approached, I rolled the window back up.  I wasn't ready to reveal my minivan self and let go of the ounce of youth remaining.  David Grohl drives a minivan and loves it.  That has to give me some cool points, right?  

As I pondered my youth, motherhood and being a wife it occurred to me.  Driving a minivan might not yet (or lets face it ever)  be perceived as cool, but this stage of life is awesome.  I finally feel comfortable in my own skin.  I am where I'm suppose to be.  My "cool" days were spent confused and trying to find myself. By the way I think only old people say "cool" now.  Anyways, I've decided to embrace my minivan days.  I'm oh so grateful that God blessed me with a minivan life.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.  

See what you want to see

If I haven't mentioned it before, I have a huge fear of cars.  I hate driving and riding in them.  If I have an opportunity to fly somewhere instead of drive I will do it.  I will take a 50 minute flight over a 3 hour drive any day.  I could go on and on about my fear of cars, but bottom line is I hate cars.  

The Husband and I were walking home from dinner recently.  As we approached our place, we noticed two cars with their lights on in our parking lot, but not in parking spots.  It appeared to be a fender bender to me.  I did my best to take a good look at the damage trying to not let those involved in the accident see me starring.  It was obvious nobody was hurt.  

"Did you see that?" Husband asked. 

"Yeah.  I hate cars, but it didn't look too bad," I reply with my head turned trying to get one more look.  

"What? Look again," He said. 

Standing there in plain view was a sixty something year old man, walking around the cars with nothing but his socks on.  Nothing but stripped socks.  He and two others (the two others were fully clothed) were speaking as though everything was normal.  How did I not see the naked man?!  
On second look, now trying not to get busted starring at the naked man, I realize there is no car accident.  Absolutely no damage to either car.  
I took this as a lesson.  We see what we want to see it life and it is all about perspective.  Many situations can be handled positively by the way we view them.  In this situation, my fear of cars and accidents got in the way of a good, hard laugh at a naked man walking around town.  I never want to miss out on a good laugh.