"Beautiful car. ladies"

The recent antique car event is now history, and, yes, I had a great time! 

The only change in my outfit from what I had initially planned to wear (my denim leggings) is that I decided to switch to stirrup pants.  Then, since it's a woman's privilege to change her mind on a moment's notice, just before I left home I gave up on the stirrup pants and changed back to my denim leggings and black tights, due to the cold that morning.   I still wore a turtleneck tunic and sweater, with ballet flats and Mom's necklace.    A typical androgynous presentation.

My wife long ago decided that she wouldn't attend this event again...residents typically shoot firecrackers and noisy things like that nearby.  She's not a fan of fireworks.  We were there a few years ago, and her theory is "once bit, twice shy."    

Before I retired, I spent time training my replacement.  On breaks, she and I talked about my car and the event. She was very interested in going, even back then.  My wife was, and still is, OK with it...since she declined to attend, and there is safety in numbers in a big city...two in a car are safer than one.  My wife sat with the woman at my retirement party, and she has been in the car a few times when I took a call from her (on the speakerphone, you know)...wifey and I both talked to her.  So, they know each other, at least superficially.  But, as luck would have it, something happened that year and we weren't able to attend the event.

Like friends do, I kept in touch with her (she's been a wealth of info about the place I used to work) and we've tried again each year since then.  No luck for various reasons, from car problems, to rain, to snow one year (which cancelled the event.)  Until this year, when everything fell into place...the weather was beautiful.   I started the car up, and it ran acceptably, if not good.   So, "we were going." 

My friend (or female friend, or girl friend, or "friend who happens to be a girl", or "girlfriend" - your choice) and I went out for Brunch before the event, at a restaurant where she was known by staff and customers alike.  There, for some reason, I was not "Miss-identified."  Not at all.   Not sure "why not", though.  They asked her if it would be separate checks, or just one, and she picked up the tab for our entire meal...wouldn't take no for an answer.  (Looks like I've lost at least some of that old male assertiveness!)    It's been ages since a girl - other than my wife - has paid for my meal! 

We finally arrived at the car event, and it was time for some pictures by the group.  Not sure if, when or where they will turn up.  Time will tell.  My friend has a great figure (yes, I'm jealous), is about 25 years younger than yours truly, and about 4 inches taller, barefooted.  When we worked together, she almost always wore short skirts and tall heels, and looked fabulous in them.  Instead of being just a few inches taller, she really towered over me.  But, not so much for this event.   :-(     Some of the club members at the event knew me, but most didn't.  None know my wife.  So, most likely either they believed my friend was my wife...or that we were two girlfriends on a day out in member hubby's car!   I introduced my friend to the few folks I knew. to try to allay the gossip.  But I suspect it fell mostly upon tin ears.  There were a lot of civilians present...who, if they addressed us, mostly did so as "ladies."   Wonder how much of that she actually heard???

The most fun was when they announced to the public who owned what cars...and I was introduced as Miss (insert real first and last name.)  For all the world to hear!   The official compliment was to both of us: "Beautiful car, ladies."  She couldn't miss that compliment...and we both thanked the guy.  More importantly, my friend said nothing about the "Miss" part!  (Yes, I had advised her early on, that I occasionally am "miss-taken" for a woman because of my long hair and nails. Which I've had since long before we've worked together.)   Now I'm anxious to see if/where our pictures turn up...

After the event concluded, I had to hurry to get both of us home before dark.  No, the car wasn't going to turn into a pumpkin.   Headlights on older cars are awful.  As I drove into our development, the sunset below presented itself to me - quite spectacular - even if darkness was falling and I barely made it before total darkness arrived.

What a memorable day!  We're already talking about planning an encore next year...maybe even decorating the car like some of the others.  A string of battery-powered Christmas lights would be fun...  Time will tell if it actually happens...but we hope so.

Later,

Mandy