Big Plans

Happy Writing Thought for the Day:

“The deepest secret in our heart of hearts is that we are writing because we love the world.” Natalie Goldberg

Psst! Don’t tell anyone, though.

I’ve tried so hard, at various times in my life to be the dressed-in-black angst-ridden writer, and no one’s ever bought it. I would form my face into a mask of bleak despair and then laugh on accident. The only thing I got right was the smoking, oh lordy, was I good at that, but no one ever bought that either. I can’t count the number of times people said, “You just don’t look like a smoker.” I wanted to stamp my feet and yell, “Oh, yes, I do!” but I didn’t really know what they meant.

I suppose I don’t look like a writer, either, not the kind Hollywood (and Dave Eggers) promotes, but maybe Natalie Goldberg would recognize me?

Today I’m going to be a world-loving writer. Yep. Big plans for the day.

Backstory: My car has had a shimmy for a while. Maybe a year or so. A bad shimmy at certain speeds, and it recently got MUCH worse, making it really difficult to drive between the speeds of 55 and 65. This blew, because Bay Area traffic usually traps you right in the 60mph range. I got used to the cheek-shaking judder and apologized to shocked friends and family. “Yep, I need to get the alignment checked.” But I never felt like I had the extra money. I wanted to get it done last week, but Mom was coming in to town, and I knew we’d be driving a hell of a lot. I didn’t want to take the chance of getting my car caught in a mechanic’s shop. I put it off until Monday, when I took it to the tire place.

“I need an alignment.”
“Okay. When was the last time you bought tires?”
“Those are the ones that came with the car, but the tread looks okay.”
“You get them rotated?”
Silence.
“Let’s go look.”
We walk.
“See? The tread’s just fine.”
“Uh-huh.” He kneels, looks, turns the wheel so I can see the inside tread.

There is none. At all. I’ve been running on two-inch wide strips of the metal fibers that lace under the tread – NO TREAD AT ALL – on the inside of ALL four tires.

Holy crap. My knees got a little wobbly as I realized how lucky I had been – my mind flashed on driving up the mountains to Yosemite last month, driving my sisters to the City, driving my mother to Stanford last week!

So, after I recovered, I bought four new tires and an alignment, and my car drives like the sports car she is now. Lord.

To celebrate, I’m driving down the coast today with the destination of Duarte’s, the home of the best olallieberry pie in the universe. Bethany took me there last year, and I want to recreate the drive today. I’m taking the laptop, and I plan to do some writing over some coffee. I might even hit the yarn shop in Half-Moon Bay. It’s overcast today, but sometimes that’s the best way to drive with the top down. In Greta’s honor, I’ll wear sunglasses (I’ll have to find a pair, first).

Here’s a photo of me and Bethy on her birthday earlier this year, Christy took it. I love this picture. We were on our way to the Mystery Spot and we were soooo goofy all day. That’s what life’s about, huh? Enjoy your day and be a little goofy. But rotate your tires, okay?

Comments

[Maeve]

would that be the mystery spot in santa cruz?? you're making me "homesick"- i went to UCSC!!

[Becky]

OMG...I'm so happy nothing happened. My mother forgot to rotate her tires and one blew out on the freeway. I don't know HOW we managed to get off. Nothing happened, thankfully. But the tire looked like a shredded onion! Will never forget that.

You two are the cutest in that convertible! I want to wear shades and a cool bandana in my hair (or maybe wear short hair, if I were able to pull it off) and just RIDE AROUND in a convertible.

[greta]

top down days headin' toward the Pacific ocean....oooooooooooooo you're makin' me SO homesick. Please do wear the shades...with a car that cool you need somethin' really dark and writery lookin'!
Can't WAIT to see the pictures :0

[alison]

One must take care of her hot little car! I'm so glad you finally took care of your tires -- and of course that nothing terrible happened (especially when you were driving with your dear little mama). Taking a drive and then writing over coffee -- sounds perfectly excellent. Please come and pick me up. I can totally sneak out of work on my lunch break...

[Em]

Yeah, there's a trans-Pacific bridge now, right? While you're at it, just drive that car all around the world, and you can swing by Brooklyn on your way home. Yeah! Very glad nothing bad happened and even more glad that you have four new, safe tires. And incredibly glad that you celebrated by drivin' and writin'. Fantastic!

[gwen aka tll grrl]

oh my god i love santa cruz! the mystery spot is wonderful and you're making me homesick as well.
: )

[Maggi]

Whew -- glad you got new tires without incident. Enjoy that drive on down the breezy highway!

[nakachi]

tires? rotated? damn. have i *ever* gotten that done? yikes.

okay. this weekend, fo sho.

thanks for the heads-up!

[Kathleen]

Geez Rachael, when you told me you have a blog, you weren't kidding. Actually, I've never seen a blog before; so, I have nothing with which to compare it. This is pretty rad. So, as one of your Sunday running buddies, I feel obliged to explain my recent absences. I've been sick. And what have I been doing with myself? Sleeping 20 hours a day and knitting for three. Unlike you, I could knit scarves and only scarves for the rest of my life and be a happy girl. I'll bring the latest to the run site some day. They're so simple, you'd cry...or pity me, I'm not sure which. Why the knitting renaissance? I'm inspired by the flurry of beautiful knit items pouring into Anthropologie, where I work. It seems lovely ribbons woven into delicate knits are as popular as brooches this season. Who knew I was such a trend-sucker? Well, now that I know you're a Six Feet Under fan, we'll have lots to discuss as the mileage increases. Rerun-watching is what I've been doing with the other hour of my ailing days.