BADASS

Today, something happened to me and Atlas that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It was one of those unexpected things that catch you completely off-guard and change way you feel in a split second. It wasn’t something bad, either. Rather, it was a sponeous interaction from a stranger that put the biggest smile on my face.

On Sunday, he and I go to a little church in Old Town Lewisville. We’ve been going there for nearly three years, and it’s become an important part of both of our lives; providing community, encouragement and peer interaction for both of us. Atlas has a small group of friends his age at the church, and I’ve found a great group of adults that I look forward to seeing each week.

Before church, he and I stopped to get donuts and coffee at our favorite place (La Diva) in the neighborhood. Once we finished, we drove the 944 to Old Town and parked in front of the church. No sooner had we gotten out of the car, a car driving on the road stopped in the middle of the street and the driver rolled down his window, yelling out:

“Man, that car is BADASS!!!”

We smiled and waved back as he pulled away.

For me, that was an important moment; it was unexpected, unplanned and – most importantly – it happened in front of Atlas. He got to see somebody stop in the middle of the road for no other reason than to compliment the car he rode to church in.

That was pretty…BADASS.

I walked into church with the biggest smile on my face and feeling like a million bucks, because it was the best compliment I’ve gotten in a very long time. As we walked in, one of the members stopped to ask us about the car. “Is that new?” she asked. “Nope. I’ve been waiting ten years for that car…”

For most of my life, I’ve wanted to have an amazing car. As I got older, I realized that money can only get you so far with a car, because it isn’t the price tag of a car that matters as much as the soul of the car.

Every time I look at the 944, a huge grin appears on my face. For me, it isn’t just a car – it’s a dream that came true, a way to honor both Father and Son and a positive reminder that good things come to those that wait.

Is she perfect? No car is. From the moment I started driving it, I started noticing things that needed to be fixed, improved or worked on. From the torque tubes to the U-joint coupling in the steering wheel, there are a lot of things that will require my time, money and patience to work on. However, it’s an adventure that I’m thrilled to take on, because someday I hope to give it to Atlas.

Beyond being a fun car, there’s something else that I’m thankful for in the 944; it’s saved me from wanting any other car. Rather than look around at the latest something-or-another, I think about the next part to install in the 944 or item that I’ll need to repair. In a weird way, I feel committed and locked in to making that car last for the long haul, even though I know it’s not ‘practical’ the way a Honda is – or fast like a new Z06 Corvette is.

Most importantly, the car isn’t mine. It’s ours.

This weekend while I was playing with Atlas, he asked if he could watch a movie before bed. I told him ‘no, it’s time for bed soon’ and without skipping a beat, he looked at me and said:

“Dad…it’s all about me.”

He had a silly smile on his face when he said it and I knew he didn’t mean it. So, I responded:

“No, Atlas. It’s all about ME.”

His response?

“No, Dad. It’s all about US.”

That’s my boy.