A Sentimental Journey

Just would like to share a little tale.

March 27, 2004 was one of the happiest days of my life, but turned out to be a memorable day as well: I was buying my very first Ferrari and brought the family along.

Two weeks earlier I had come to the dealership to look at the car but got there after they closed and left brokenhearted, and had to drag the family back the next weekend, again making the 180 miles round trip. The 83 Mondial QV was gleaming in her glorious silver, and in person looking more alluring than any photo of her can ever show. I also realized for the first time that it matters little what color a Ferrari is: it isn't a "low key" sort of car! The dealer fired up the engine, and the Tubi-enhanced music was the first time I ever heard a Ferrari, and I fell deeper in love! I came with every intention to buy the car, so even if the dealer had not allowed me to drive her, she would become mine anyhow!
Getting ready to make the deal on the spot I learned that I had to have financing prepared ahead of time and again had to leave and come back the following Saturday!

So we now are at March 27, 2004. I returned with the check and signed the papers and I have bought my first Ferrari. I was extremely nervous about driving her back home, but was able to mix sheer joy in with that trepidation, and I pulled out and away...

My wife and I had also planned for us all to stop at our favorite Syrian restaurant in a nearby town on our way back home, and 20 miles later we arrived there. I was circling around looking for a safe spot to park and decided to pull up to a lot behind the restaurant. And never having had a low-slung sports car I didn't think to take into consideration the steep angle of the drive and promptly damaged the left front fender region pulling up the ramp. Thus in a matter of 30 minutes I had bought and damaged my very first Ferrari!

I still made myself enjoy the raw kibee [damn excellent lamb dish!] as I waited for the AAA tow truck to take her home. We followed in the family wagon and I remained in self-anger and disbelief.

She was professionally repaired by a local custom street-rod shop and I got to drive her again 5 weeks later,...and again, and again,...and often, since. However, I began to feel that my clumsiness and stupidity had denied her that nice road journey from the restaurant back to her stable that fateful spring day; and finally made it up to her this past beautiful autumn Saturday by going back to that restaurant and then going back the same route that we would have taken last March!

I think she had a blast [short 120mph bursts here and there ], and I hope she has forgiven me. Yes, I now have a second F-car, but her place in my heart is secured because she was my first, and because I sincerely feel that I will never completely make up for what I had done to her.
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northwestern PA