SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com

WE GOT GRILL! & I GOT MY 255's (robert! & sandra!) #jeep

i can't help but laugh.   no car either one of us has ever owned is more designed to handle all the elements; and then some

but brief background here:

i was in my limelight.. scrunched between k rails and giant 18 wheelers.. construction; had a panic attack of sorts;  made it safely home, but..

didn't drive on the freeway again; self elected out..      was starting to feel trapped, asking people to drive for me.. meet me here instead of there; avoiding freeway at all cost

started going over in my mind..  what car did i drive in my whole life; over the course of my whole driving life, that gave me the most driving confidence   -combined this knowledge with prayer for God to restore my driving confidence  -specifically my freeway driving confidence

landed on the answer   i had my most driving confidence when 

i was driving my jeep blue see!  i loved it!   and i could pull in spaces backwards..  i could parallel park.. i could zip..  i could zag..     and i loved how it had a little bounce about it..

but i did buy it used..  and it was part by part, falling apart..  and so, God blessed me with a family who purchased it primarily for its parts, and to work on, from a jeep enthusiasts/hobbyist perspective, and budget/practicality, several factors landed me in my limelight..    and great on gas!  but on todays freeways with construction ongoing, k rails and cement walls cropping up like a bamboo forest, higher population of 18 wheelers, higher population of  selfish, dangerous drivers on the road.. on and on..  

well, i asked my sexy, if i couldn't get myself a used wrangler sport again..    and 2 door, not 4, because i can navigate a 2 door; its just the write size for me..  (we have an SUV that can accommodate friends/family passengers). 

it is to my giant surprise (and his children's surprise.. and anyone who knows him well's surprise) that we purchased a new, not used, jeep wrangler willys edition

the one thing i said often about my jeep blue see, is that 'i love my airplane tires!'   it was the first time i had even paid attention to tires..  and i just immediately loved how big and texturey..

and i wanted that experience again too..   and he had not really ever paid that much attention to tires either, until i started showing him..

and i did not care about new or used, when it came to the jeep wrangler itself, but i cared very much about having big tires again..

at one point, we were going to get the jeep wrangler sport, and have the default tires changed to mud tires..   and being the budget wise person he is, he suggested that once the default tires needed changed out anyway, that's when we could get the mud tires..

and now, i am not one to push.. or insist on my way..  i am more the grateful for what youre willing to give and be comfortable with type, 

but, we are not commuting anymore; we are retired, 

and i started doing the math..   and i was getting pretty depressed and frustrated..  and i said to my sexy, i said, 

"the thing about the tires is this..   i'm not 25 years old, i'm 57..   i'll be like 90 before the tires need to be changed and i can get my mud tires"

but we did due dilegence.. and we did try and figure out, which was the over all better value?

to purchase a jeep wranger sport 2 door, and purchase mud tires to have put on.. and sell the default tires that come with it

or

purchase the 2 door jeep wrangler willy's edition, which comes with the 255 mud tires already on it

and we visited several dealerships..   and we spent hours on the jeep website, building our imaginary jeeps, customizing, etc.  to figure out the best value

and i really wanted those two-fifty-fives!

and then he started falling for them too..   

then, when we started looking at jeeps that don't have mud tires..  they looked  -wrong.   like, it doesnt match   -plain all terrain tires with that gorgeous beefy jeep grill and body

and we noticed how, on some new versions of jeep,  -not sure the vocabulary, but, on some new jeeps, the front grill, bumper, they've closed off a view of the tire..   but the willy's maintains that visual access

but being able to see the tire!   aesthetically speaking...    huge!   i love the whole look; we both do

and we sat in a willy's at one dealership..   and we test drove..   

and "i" test drove a 2 door wrangler...   and in the very moment i test drove that jeep, i was no longer guessing, wondering, hoping, 

i knew! my driving confidence was restored!  i love being high up!  you need this visual advantage on the freeways today..   and no vehicle i have ever driven or been in as a passenger has a better visual field than the jeep wrangler..  and it has a little bounce and personality and character.. and it gets up and goes when you want it, or need to..   it has power..

and my husband, he never once complained about driving me in the limelight, getting me from here to there without making me feel terrible about my fear..  he was so gracious..

and he is not at all insecure about the man he is, and so.. he never once let on that driving the limelight (vs. a big masculine truck)  -he never once mentioned anything about it

but, when we did purchase our willy's,   and he was in the driver seat of that..

his expression and tone and smile..  there was this way he said, this feels good; much better..

truth is:  he LOVES it.    and truth is:  i LOVE it too!   and as i told him, my driving confidence went from zero to 10.  and i was on the freeway..  and i was here and there..  and i can back it into the garage.. and i can maneuver it with confidence.  i can see ahead, i can see all around..

and my jeep blue see had manual roll down windows, manual  -get out of your jeep, adjust the side view mirrors, get back in, check.. get back out, adjust the sideviews..

but this willy's has POWER windows and doors..    love, love, love

it's a giant upgrade for both of us.  and it's not just my driving confidence that is restored; but my joy!  it is a pleasure to drive this jeep..   it is fun.  we are a perfect match.  i look forward to it, and can't wait to take it out again soon..

the color has been a hot topic in conversations.. it's new for 2023, and everyone has their unique way to describe it.  jeep itself calls it, earl clearcoat.   but if you say, my jeep is earl clearcoat..  like, unless you are already familiar..  you have no idea.  juan from fremont, calls it 'mint' like mint chocolate chip.. a young woman from a san jose dealership, called it 'sage'   an online article called it, aquamarine..    and the thing is, it is greyish, greenish, hint of blue-ish, and very creamy..   

so we have landed on our own unique description; we call it, aqua~creamy~marine.

we waited several months, after due diligence.. finally customizing, ordering.. and then waiting several months for delivery.  i half considered creating a birth announcement; playing off the idea

proud parents announcement:

born:  height/weight;   name..

and we both do have that light hearted playfulness about 'our baby'   -being extra careful, nurturing..  adding accessories..

making plans for our future together.

and every time i get the chance, i don't say, 'i got mud tires'  i say with a smile, i say, 

"got my 255's!"    and everywhere we park it, my sexy he says with a smile, he says, "this is the best looking vehicle in the lot!"   and the two of us, we like to playfully say, "we got grill!"

   -good times, answered prayers..

jeeps for my entire family..   that's my vision.  what other vehicle has the miraculous, magical combination of being safer and badass at the same time?  and what a variety of models.. for off road thrill seekers, to the family man, to the taxi-mom,   -first time driver, to college, to career

and "to retirement!"  jeep wave ~ jeep cheers!

"rescued and restored again! Thank You Jesus!  Thank You Jeep!  Thank You Sexy!  amen."

posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 12:52 PM