Photo Credit: Bagel!

My first car was a shiny black 1960 Volkswagen Beetle with chrome bumpers. It was the first new car that my family owned and (sadly) it became mine when my 41-year-old father died of a heart condition when I was 16. The 'Bug' held precious family memories for me of trips to the grocery store on Friday evenings, then stopping by McDonald's as a special treat, as well as other family activities.

Later my Dad patiently attempted to teach me to drive the standard transmission, which didn't go well since I was terribly nervous and inept. At one point we went around a corner nearly on two wheels!! When I eventually became a competent driver, I experienced a tremendous sense of freedom and adventure traveling around our town and on back roads with my best friend, who had also lost her father. Somehow that was a very healing experience for both of us.

* At some point, when the cloth interior roof of the Bug had deteriorated, my Dad tore it out and creatively replaced it with carpet tiles in a fun, patchwork configuration. Happily, he passed his ingenuity on to me!

Paula