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VIDEOA Father's Day Ode to Dads and Daughters
By
Laurie Petersen Jun 19, 2009 7:45 am
Reflections on the true meaning of fatherhood
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In addition to providing the male world view, Dads are the go-to guys for all things car-related.
Growing up I spent a fair amount of time driving around with my Dad. The first family car I can recall with clarity was our Chevrolet (GM) Impala.
One of my favorite outings was a trip to the car wash. Typically the radio would be tuned to William B. Williams playing songs from Sinatra.
In the ‘60s, seat belts weren’t required. But if they had been, my father would have disabled them. For a responsible family guy, this is his one notably risky behavior, and he passed it along to me.
The habit cost me a whopping $120 recently when I was caught and ticketed by a vigilant NYC police officer after I zipped through the Lincoln Tunnel without wearing one.
My father lacked the patience to teach me how to drive. We left that to my boyfriend and Taggart’s Driving School. But he did show me the ropes as they pertained to the proper frequency for oil changes, lube jobs and tune-ups. He taught me about the consequences of points, insurance and underinflated tires. He helped me pick and finance my first car, a Toyota (TM). I paid him back $100 a month for four years.
I had my first major car accident while out on assignment for a newspaper in college. I hit an oil slick, spun around several times and crashed into a tree. Miraculously, I walked out of the car completely intact. But this fact was lost on my father at the time.
I can still recall his face when he inspected the damage. He said he’d expected me to crack up the car at some point, but I’d managed to exceed his expectations.
It’s no small irony I married someone who does not drive. That’s not entirely unusual for someone who grew up in Europe, and since we always lived in a city he had no motivation to learn. I now make sure anyone I date has a valid driver's license!
If my Dad’s not able to fill the role of car czar when the time comes, I'll continue to be the go-to gal for my daughter on all things automotive. Just like Lorelai.
Was your dad the family car expert? Weigh in on The Exchange.
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