Our Newest Addition

We have a new member of our family. Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like you to meet . . .

Gus.

Ever since the first time I saw The Italian Job, I wanted to drive a MINI Cooper.

For the last fifteen years, I've driven a Chevy Suburban. No two cars could be more opposite.

Oh, I still have the Suburban, and I still haul a hundred kids around all the time. But when it's just me . . . then it's just me and Gus. After so many years driving a tank around town, this little car feels free and fun. I still pull too far into parking places, but I love how he fits between cars in traffic.

He's quite the novelty around here. Everyone wants to ride in him, and if there's an option of which car to take, the younger kids always shout, "Let's take the MINI!"

I'm happy to oblige.

Lily gets her license in a few weeks, and she would love to drive Gus around when she's legal. Problem is, Gus has a manual transmission, and she's never driven one before. Brad took her out once to teach her the subtleties of a clutch.

And off they went.

From all reports, she did pretty well.

She looks pretty behind that wheel, and I'll share on occasion. But I have news for her.

Gus belongs to me.

So, if you see me tooling around town in a little blue MINI and wonder if that's me, you no longer need to question your vision. Smile and wave.

It is me.

Me and Gus.

Meant to be.