Vinny the Van

When I first got my permit, I remember thinking about how I aspired to drive a jeep or some kind of sporty SUV with a top that could retract. I would be the picturesque girl with ray bans on heading to the beach with her wavy hair blowing in the wind. You know?

Fast forward to getting my license. I had to take the test twice. I somehow managed to book my first test at the DMV that had the meanest and most strict driving instructors. The one I had was an older woman who, during my test, I recall actually physically pressed her foot down on nothing pretending to brake because she was so nervous about how close I got to a car in front of us. She also docked me points because I made a left turn that “I should not have made” because the oncoming 16 wheeler was “too close to us” … well we made it, didn't we? smh. I passed the second one though. Had to parallel park and reverse park and totally aced it with flying colors. Didn't get too close to any other cars and I was utterly satisfied because yay, I had my drivers license! So I asked my parents for a car….

My Grandfather worked for an electric company that had cars available for extremely cheap. So why not use it to our advantage? So yup, I drove a DEEPLY TINTED, white, 3 door (meaning driver, passenger, and ONE sliding door) old school work van. It was perfect for when my friends and I went out and everyone needed a ride. We obviously could all fit (5 or 6 of us plus maybe like 3 surfboards for reference) but it wasn't the cutest of cars to drive. I named him Vinny and lined his bare white interior walls with pictures upon pictures of my friends and I. It was a good time, until I had to drive it to school and my classmates loved to tease me about it. “Let the children out CJ!” while banging on the side of my van with no door (or window). Ahh, highschool, what a time.

What I learned from this is that it is better to dream of a jeep and get a vinny because when you get a jeep later, it will be more satisfying… JK I don't even drive anymore. I live in New York and take the subway everywhere I go hahaha. Literally just wanted to tell you about how I had to drive a rapist van to high school everyday. Have a wonderful day!