Blazin' Glory

So does anyone else out there believe that your car has feelings? When we moved to Germany, driving here would bring the most anxiety and fear to me than anything else. I remember one day meeting a new friend that drove a van and seeing the most incredible wound (because cars are real you know) running down the side. When I questioned her she just laughed and said, "You won't have truly lived in Europe until you have a large dent in your American sized car, they are not meant to drive these roads" My poor blazer, is this really what your fate is?! I was the one who presented the Blaze with it's first European award by backing into a brick wall and wounding the bumper. I thought for sure (or at least desperately hoped) that it was done and the Blaze was initiated. So far so good but man, we've had some close ones:

1. Driving one day in the walkplatz in Winnweiler (where no car should ever be but you have to to park) I see an oncoming SUV. Oh, it's going to be a tight one. Sure enough our side mirrors hit. I'm assured later that this is common which explains why the other guy didn't even brake and went merrily on his way, while I pull off INTO the exiting bank lane. I know exactly what all my friends in Winnweiler were thinking while shaking their heads, "Another new American".

2. Driving out of Vogelweh you merge into a 3 lane road, one for you and two for oncoming traffic. There is very little median (there is NO median) and no room on the sides. I see an oncoming car (another SUV) who has his wheels over the paint in my lane. THEN I see a semitruck merging into the new 2nd lane going my way but guess what?! His two wheels are over the paint in my lane too and we are going to all meet at the same point. How did I get through?! Was it because I squeezed my legs, bum, and elbows in or shut my eyes (yes, I did shut my eyes)? I made it through but to this day I don't know how. It took the next 10 minutes to get my heart rate back to normal.

2. Can't even begin to describe the experience of driving in Italy but I can tell you that there are roads there that will give the Blaze about 6 inches on either side and that is all. And there is no such thing as "right of way" only "force your way or be rear ended". Mark and the Blaze were a spectacular team!

3. Just yesterday I was driving down the little 2 lane farm road that leads to our small village. Around the corner comes a white car half way into my lane. (what is with lane hogging?) I can either swerve into the snow covered field of mud and hit the reflector barrier or hit the white car. Pretty lame options. So I do both and can you believe it? . . . I didn't hit anything! I swerved to the right then back to the left (I want to say my right side lifted off the ground like in the movies but I can't prove it) Another "made it through" moment with no explanation. You should have seen Bailey's face, never seen lips turn white that fast.

The Blaze really looks out for our family. She (has to be female) has taken us from Texas, to Illinois, to Utah, back to Illinois, Germany, Italy, Austria, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg and who know what is next and never an incident yet. Good Job Girl! And you should know that I talk to her in my head, I stroke her dash and play her kickin' music through her radio. We take good care to feed her, bathe her, clean her out and pump her up. This week she is getting new shoes (tires) and a slick willy (oil change) in preparation for Holland. I think if I take good care of her, she will continue to do the same for me.