For my future children:

When I was your age I had a car named Binny that was more beast than machine. You’re lucky you go to school in the morning without fear and fond flashbacks of your childhood flashing through your mind as you face unknown danger.

Binny had a mind and a will of his own. And had I not mistaken the length of his front and run into a wall he may have continued to run the AC as he chose and I’m certain had he had it his way we would’ve melted onto the weathered seats one fine day in the tropics.

Although Binny was not unfeeling and a cool wind was provided to us through the indomitable back window, which slid down with every mile we drove and gave us the constant reminder to mind nature and its wonders, as rain poured into the back seat and drenched its occupants.

Binny our accomplice on many night time adventures granted us a grand sense of excitement by puttering on with headlights that provided about as much light as two dim flashlights. Leaving us rounding corners blindly not knowing what would meet us as we straightened up – car, deer or the roaring sea.

As I owned a quarter of Binny I must say I did admire how Binny never ceased to spring something new upon us. Always eager to test our resolve and resourcefulness, some days Binny’s bumper would threaten to tip off the one rusty screw that held it in place and on others Binny would throw his hubcaps off and slouch down on a flat tire. Determined I daresay to give an air of casual humor. ‘Leave the humor to the punch buggy Binny, you foolish Hyundae’, I’d say.

Sigh.

Binny in all his wonder was a free spirit. He refused to be dominated by a driver and it took a great deal of muscle and time to flex the wheel on anything resembling a turn. I do not attribute this to the continual leakage of power steering fluid but more to Binny’s wild attitude and disregard for authority.

In particularly reckless moods Binny would scream from the front left tire area when making turns. A shrill, frightening squeal that enticed the passengers to cling to the seat and say a prayer or two as they wondered when exactly they’d entered a high speed car chase reminiscent of a Bruce Willis movie and occurring at the remarkable speed of 30 mph.

I’ll look back a year from now I’m sure and wonder what poor jungle creatures Binny is terrorizing after he sped off into the jungle upon realizing we were attempting to drop him off at the car pound.