It's unspoken knowledge that everyone driving a Jeep Wrangler will wave to every other person driving a Wrangler. The moment that you take the wheel of that four-bying cube you become part of a special community. A cult of Jeep enthusiasts who drive iconic vehicles and worship the ability to take their car through any landscape God can put in front of them.
My dream car changed as a grew up. In elementary school I wanted a camouflage Dodge Dakota, mostly because it had my name in it. In Junior High I wanted a 1953 Chevy Pickup truck, painted candy apple red and to look just like it did when it came out of the factory. Then I got to High School and my idea of the ideal vehicle changed once more. I admired the versatility and manueverability of the Jeep Wrangler. A Wrangler has enough clearance to make it down my mile long driveway of pot-holes and a stream crossings every spring, and yet has a sharper turn radius than any other car I can think of... well, except maybe those little Japanese smart cars, but anyways, a Wrangler was the perfect car for my purposes. Little did I know that randomly in November of 2008 my parents would buy my dream vehicle. It was black Jeep Wrangler with silver pinstripe flames on the hood, a three inch lift, big tires, a winch, cb radio, and even an on-board air compressor! More than I had ever dreamed of! But the Jeep fit more than my purposes, it also fit my personality. I don't mean simply because I am a cowboy and the name of the vehicle is a little ironic. With driving a Jeep came a sort of statement about who I was. The whole world could know that I wasn't the redneck that everyone stereotyped me as on their first glance. I didn't drive a pickup truck too tall to look normal with giant tires and untasteful decals in the windows. I was at another level of sophistication, "I'm not a redneck! I drive a Jeep!" seemed to run through my head. The Jeep Wrangler seems to catch the idea of my outdoor enthusiasm, it describes all of my hobbies; backpacking, hiking, hunting, fishing, rock climbing and just about anything else outdoorsy that you can think of. This Jeep was special though becaus not only did it describe my hobbies and the type of person I was, but it also fit my Music taste. The Black body and silver flames scream "Beatles!" everytime I look at it, the colors are the exact same as those used for the classic Beatles logo. Silver Lettering on a Black background.
The best thing about driving a Jeep is the community though. The moment you take the wheel every other Jeep driver is a close friend. The moment I see a Jeep Wrangler driving towards me, way off on the horizon I ready myself for that non-chalant wave that says "hey you're cool, so am I because we drive the same type of car." All of the other Jeep drivers wave to you too. It's the most wonderful feeling in the world. That brief wave between Jeep enthusiasts tells you that you belong, you have friends amidst the frantic stream of angry drivers and people lost in cell-phone conversation on the roadways. That simple wave tells you that you are recognized, and a feeling of confidence and self control comes over you. It doesn't matter what everybody else thinks or is doing because that random stranger waved back at me. All of the Jeep drivers wave back, except the californians... I haven't had a single Californian Jeep driver wave back... Did they not get the message, do they think they are better than the rest of us Jeep drivers? Why don't the Californians wave back?
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Ha I love this. It made me think of how much I hate the fact that girls drive big trucks, even though I secretly want one and drove a small pickup in highschool. I really liked how you made the scene on the roadway and how it's a secret society in itself. The California drivers of Jeeps are just up here to make their fashion statement and trying to fit in. They don't read between the lines when they come up here and don't really understand why here in Idaho we go "damn californians". Up here you should be ashamed to say that you came from there, it's the awkward "where are you from" and the hushed response "california". they just haven't gotten the Idaho lifestyle down quite yet.
ReplyDeleteI blame the heat! 104 degrees in Canyonlands National Park as I was out exploring the country. There right in front of me was a sign that read "4 Wheel Drive Only". HEY! I gotta a 4 wheel drive. Life was grand ... sunrider top flipped back, music going, beautiful scenery. Then came the rocks. It's a Jeep! It will be fine! Going up was no problem whatsoever ... it was coming down that created the gut-wrenching sound of metal on rock in my new Jeep with less than 6k miles. OUCH! Learned it!! Just cuz I've seen the pictures ... just cuz other people do it ... this does NOT mean I should do it. But like I said, I blame the heat!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, and I forgot to mention ... someone already got my license plate that was suppose to read "GoTopless". That right there is like my life motto (one of them at least)! Guess I will have to settle for a shirt to wear WHILE I am out driving around topless!
ReplyDeleteI like this post, hence all these comments. I think if you swerve in front of and cut off the Cali drivers they will wave back! One finger is better than none right?
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