Shirley is my car, and I love her very much, really I do, but I neglect her woefully.
I was getting ready to get on the road this afternoon to head back to school after spring break (accomplishment for the week: watched the entire first season of “The Sopranos” on videotape), and I figured while I was still at my mom’s it would be a good time to vacuum out my car since they have a shop-vac. As I delve into the interior, I am commenting to myself that I have allowed it to degenerate to a rather appalling condition (OK, I said to myself more than once, “Eeeeccchhh…this is disgusting.”).
I have had this car for almost two years, and had kept thinking I really needed to get a pedal cover for the clutch pedal, since it was bare. Well, I lift out the floor mat on the driver’s side to shake it out, and what do I find underneath it but the clutch pedal cover!
I really need to clean out my car more often.
Just wait for the next clear morning, top up the tank, point her toward the mountains and drive. All will be forgiven.
Well, she got me back to Massachusetts in one piece, so I guess she still loves me, the poor baby. I’ve vowed not to let another 2 years go by before I clean her out again–and to remember to put the antenna down before I go through the carwash (oops!). She’s also WAY overdue for an oil change, so I suppose I should do that next.
On a side note, I think I saw more state troopers last night than I have in all my to/from trips over the last 2 years combined. Luckily, almost all of them were actively engaged in giving someone else a ticket when I saw them. The troopers of New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts were busy little bees last night.
Glad to see you made it back to Massachusetts safe and ticket-free, Geobabe. I hope you’ve had your oil changed more recently than you’d cleaned out your car. 
One Memorial Day, I was on my way back from Colorado. On a fairly long stretch of I-17, I saw people pulled over every few hundred yards. This was on the northbound side, i.e. going away from Phoenix. On my side of the interstate–no one. I could’ve driven 120 mph and gotten away with it. The AZ State Patrol was definitely targetting the out-of-towners.
I don’t even want to admit how long it’s been since I had the oil changed, but it has definitely been less than 2 years. I feel bad about neglecting her so, she really is a champ. I love my car! I do!
I’ve heard that CT troopers like to ticket out-of-state drivers but I haven’t been pulled over there yet. I usually try to make sure someone on the road is going faster than me, so maybe that helps. I was going a little slower than usual that night because there were so many smokeys out and about. Still made pretty good time though.
when my cheque comes in, I’m gonna buy a can of compressed air, unscrew Beulah’s casing, and give her guts a nice airing out and air-dusting. She’ll like that, I can tell. (Won’t you honey? Aww, you know I love you. hugs computer)