BLENDING IN

I like to stay anonymous on the road. I like black or white cars with no flashy accessories. Well, I have to admit to having a "peace frog" sticker adorning the spare tire on my back bumper...but nothing more than a little splash of color. I also have a huge monkey, who sits in a booster seat in my backseat, but with my tinted windows no one sees him. He's merely there for company and passenger entertainment.

Yesterday I was sitting at a red light, when I spotted a huge rolling orange heading toward me, about three blocks away. I just gaped at this car when it finally reached my intersection. It was an older model Chevy, bright, bright orange. The chrome on the wheels was trimmed out in orange. The car had been lifted so you'd need a small step ladder to climb into it. (or at least I would cause white girls don't jump) Behind the wheel was a huge black man, so large his belly was up against the steering wheel. His windows were rolled down, the bass on his stereo turned up so loud...MY car started vibrating. After the initial shock of it all wore off I looked at the driver and couldn't help smiling at the big grin on his face. He obviously thought he was the "shit" and I was happy for him.

I wouldn't even want to be a passenger in a car like that. Forget the stress of having to figure out how to climb in and out...the stares of fellow road travelers and pedestrians would make me want to crawl under the dash.

Years ago I owned a copper Mazda. It was the first time that color had ever been on the road. I traded the car in six months later because of all the stares it got. I considered buying a Volkswagen bug when they first reissued them, but I knew I'd have to have a bright blue one and cover it in flowers. Not exactly non-descript. I don't want a sports vehicle either cause I'd order it in bright red and it's a known fact that red cars get stopped by police more than any other color car. I've got a heavy foot...so I want to stay as ghost like as possible on the road.

Nope, I'll keep my lovely low key black RAV4. The peace frog is really just so I can identify my car in parking lots. It's a very, very popular model. Ahhhh anonymity.