My Wheels: Now and Then

After living in cities for many years, I'm back behind the wheel of a Honda, driving to the mall, the gas station, the supermarket, the gas station, McDonald's, the gas station, my parents' house, the gas station. Looking around my car, I can't help but notice that the clutter filling the interior has changed somewhat since the last time I had a car in the suburbs, 1994. Here is a comparison of the junk inside my home-away-from-home, now and then:

1994: Crushed tape cover for Ini Kamoze's epic single, "Here Comes the Hotstepper," covered with ink stains and splatterings of Diet Dr. Pepper.

2010: Wrinkled Babies R Us coupons, splattered with Diet Dr. Pepper and baby drool.

1994: A dozen empty water bottles.

2010: A dozen empty water bottles.

1994: A copy of Sassy magazine, opened to an editorial on the joys of creating a mix tape about the joys of vegetarianism.

2010: A copy of What to Expect: The Toddler Years, opened to a section on how to discourage your child from using the dish full of gourmet food you painstakingly prepared as a Frisbee.

1994: A flannel shirt left in the back seat by someone who apparently didn't shower very often.

2010: One size 2 sandal for which I just spent a half hour searching the apartment, finally building up the courage to look under the couch, where I uncovered a teething ring, a long-lost sock, a finger puppet, and a Tic Tac.

1994: A copy of an essay comparing the themes of Camus' existential classic The Stranger with the alienation and angst of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

2010: A stuffed animal that, after connecting it to my laptop, can recite my daughter's name, favorite animal, social security number, some stock recommendations, and five more Leapfrog products she should convince Mommy to buy her.

Of course, nothing compares to the biggest change of all...the passengers inhabiting the back seat:

1994: Whichever BFF failed to call "shotgun" quickly enough to grab the passenger seat...or some friend of a friend in need of a ride to the mall.

2010: The most adorable BFF I've ever had, who accompanies me everywhere, never complains about my playing the same Journey song three times in a row, and never fails to pipe in with a unique insight or the best word in the English language: "mama."

Here's to my favorite back-seat driver!