Luke
09-29-2008, 07:43 PM
I lifted this from the Topica site and decided to copy it here. I'm sure I have seen (and maybe talked to) this person at Roswell. I think you will all find this amusing and touching, in a car-ownership kind of way. Thanks to Cameron for making us think (and feel agian) about why we own and drive New Beetles.
- Luke
From: Cameron Talley <CTal-@hot.rr.com>
Date: September 26, 2008 6:41:43 AM CDT
To: Newbug <new-@topica.com>
Subject: Ten
Ten years ago today at around 4-6 in the afternoon, a yellow school
bus—newly returned from an hour long drive from the site of All-
region choir tryouts—rolled into the parking lot of Coronado High
School. Inside sitting on one of the myriad grey, uncomfortable
and likely germ-covered seats was a young man (almost a boy,
really) tired out from the ordeals of the day and disappointed that
he didn’t make the cut for the choir.
As he exited the bus, he looked around for his parents, who were
supposed to be waiting for him. Unable to find them, he headed to
the band hall and continued his search. After several frustrating
minutes, he bumped into a classmate of his, who told him (with a
smile) to go around to the front.
Walking slowly, he turned the corner and saw the most wonderful
sight that any 16 year old could see: A Brand New, Red, Volkswagen
New Beetle, sitting alone in the empty Saturday parking lot. It
was sitting there, waiting patiently for his new owner to come and
claim him as his own. The boy ran his hands over the smooth round
dome and opened the driver’s side door, the fresh scent of “new car
smell” wafting up into his nostrils as he inhaled deeply.
Turning to his parents, almost speechless, he uttered, “is it mine?”
And smiling, they replied, “it’s yours.”
And here I am today, 10 years later from that momentous occasion
which was—unbeknownst to me at the time—to have such an impact on
my life. Reflecting back on ten years brings back so many
memories: the trials and tribulations of high school, graduation,
and moving to a new city for college. The often-frustrating but
certainly never boring 6 weeks when I pledged a fraternity. The
many football games (including a handful of wins!), contests, road
trips, vacations, and other crazy times in college. The troubling
hunt for a job after that piece of paper goes up on the wall and
you realize that it’s over. And finally, working everyday in a job
I love, in a city I love, at the place I love.
As I look back on a decade of New Beetle ownership, I realize that
in 10 tumultuous, confusing years, my car, Tommy, has been the one
single constant in my life. He’s always there, ready to take me to
the next stop. Ready to soothe my frustrations with a
lackadaisical cruise. Ready to take me to that interview or go
meet that girl. Ready for anything.
Oh, he doesn’t look brand-new anymore. I have gotten lazy—or
perhaps, content in old age is a better phrase for it. He
desperately needs a bath (Saturday I hope!) and a wax job. The
headlights are in sore need of replacement, their bright beams
obfuscated by a decade of road grime and bug impacts. The
headliner is drooping down, the glue a victim of 10 hot Texas
summers. The Coco mats have worn thin and their color has faded.
When I look at Tommy now—I mean really take a good second to stop
and look—I still feel some deep stirring in the depths of my soul,
something which I really can’t describe. Something Meet and Right;
something fitting. I think back on all the good times we have
enjoyed together. I think about all the wonderful people that I
have met and formed friendships with at R2K and other events.
The first brochure for the New Beetle spoke of a car with heart,
passion, and soul, something that evoked a feeling that had been
missing from the world for too long. And it asked us, “Isn’t the
world ready for that kind of car once again?”
And I look at Tommy and I know what the answer is, and what that
answer means to me….
Here’s to 96,000 some odd miles and ten years down the road of
life, and all the sights and sounds along that crazy twisted highway.
And here’s hoping for 10 more…
Cameron and TOMMY
- Luke
From: Cameron Talley <CTal-@hot.rr.com>
Date: September 26, 2008 6:41:43 AM CDT
To: Newbug <new-@topica.com>
Subject: Ten
Ten years ago today at around 4-6 in the afternoon, a yellow school
bus—newly returned from an hour long drive from the site of All-
region choir tryouts—rolled into the parking lot of Coronado High
School. Inside sitting on one of the myriad grey, uncomfortable
and likely germ-covered seats was a young man (almost a boy,
really) tired out from the ordeals of the day and disappointed that
he didn’t make the cut for the choir.
As he exited the bus, he looked around for his parents, who were
supposed to be waiting for him. Unable to find them, he headed to
the band hall and continued his search. After several frustrating
minutes, he bumped into a classmate of his, who told him (with a
smile) to go around to the front.
Walking slowly, he turned the corner and saw the most wonderful
sight that any 16 year old could see: A Brand New, Red, Volkswagen
New Beetle, sitting alone in the empty Saturday parking lot. It
was sitting there, waiting patiently for his new owner to come and
claim him as his own. The boy ran his hands over the smooth round
dome and opened the driver’s side door, the fresh scent of “new car
smell” wafting up into his nostrils as he inhaled deeply.
Turning to his parents, almost speechless, he uttered, “is it mine?”
And smiling, they replied, “it’s yours.”
And here I am today, 10 years later from that momentous occasion
which was—unbeknownst to me at the time—to have such an impact on
my life. Reflecting back on ten years brings back so many
memories: the trials and tribulations of high school, graduation,
and moving to a new city for college. The often-frustrating but
certainly never boring 6 weeks when I pledged a fraternity. The
many football games (including a handful of wins!), contests, road
trips, vacations, and other crazy times in college. The troubling
hunt for a job after that piece of paper goes up on the wall and
you realize that it’s over. And finally, working everyday in a job
I love, in a city I love, at the place I love.
As I look back on a decade of New Beetle ownership, I realize that
in 10 tumultuous, confusing years, my car, Tommy, has been the one
single constant in my life. He’s always there, ready to take me to
the next stop. Ready to soothe my frustrations with a
lackadaisical cruise. Ready to take me to that interview or go
meet that girl. Ready for anything.
Oh, he doesn’t look brand-new anymore. I have gotten lazy—or
perhaps, content in old age is a better phrase for it. He
desperately needs a bath (Saturday I hope!) and a wax job. The
headlights are in sore need of replacement, their bright beams
obfuscated by a decade of road grime and bug impacts. The
headliner is drooping down, the glue a victim of 10 hot Texas
summers. The Coco mats have worn thin and their color has faded.
When I look at Tommy now—I mean really take a good second to stop
and look—I still feel some deep stirring in the depths of my soul,
something which I really can’t describe. Something Meet and Right;
something fitting. I think back on all the good times we have
enjoyed together. I think about all the wonderful people that I
have met and formed friendships with at R2K and other events.
The first brochure for the New Beetle spoke of a car with heart,
passion, and soul, something that evoked a feeling that had been
missing from the world for too long. And it asked us, “Isn’t the
world ready for that kind of car once again?”
And I look at Tommy and I know what the answer is, and what that
answer means to me….
Here’s to 96,000 some odd miles and ten years down the road of
life, and all the sights and sounds along that crazy twisted highway.
And here’s hoping for 10 more…
Cameron and TOMMY