Debbie Lanier's Life and Tales- Part 3: Her Cars

My mom had quite a few cars in her time, many of them memorable, some annoying, all she put her spin on (dad joke intended). 

Her first car she bought was in the early 70s: her Vega. She loved that car as it was the first one she owned and bought. I can't remember if it were the Vega or the Chevelle but one of her cars had a broken gas meter so she kept gas in it all the time. The Vega had a sad ending as it was totaled in a car accident. My mom was very injured, even got a concussion. Those that know Debbie Lanier the best know two things: she was more worried and crying over losing the Vega and people were trying to keep her awake due to the concussion but she was being stubborn. 

She then got a Chevelle which she had for quite sometime. It was the car she drove when her and my dad dated. She later gave it to my uncle Kenny the year after I was born. 

Mom drove at least two other cars (somehow she always seemed to have a silver/gray car) that I cannot recall. I definitely remember the hot, clunker Granada. It got us around from point A to point B and wherever she took us and any other kid or family member. That was the car (or the one prior) that only had one working radio station. Fortunately that station played everything. We had a lot of good memories in the ole Granada although it stayed in the shop every month. 

She then had the loud and embarrassing Ford Escort (one of two). Myself and my brother loved the hatchback but that muffler was so loud! That was another car that kept us on the side of the road. It was the first one I can remember having a tape deck. 

The Chevrolet Spectrum was next. This car logged a lot of miles between myself and my brother's extracurricular activities and was the first car we had when my mom got her place. It was a good, fun ride and the car that I drove when I was learning to drive. 

The best car hands down besides perhaps the Vega that she had was the Cavalier. It was nearly brand new and lasted almost ten years. That car traveled everywhere and myself and my brother drove it. That was the car I drove to prom that had two separate keys, one for the ignition and one for locking it. That car also moved me in and out during my college days. I have very warm memories of this car. 

Mom then upgraded to two different Escorts and gave the Cavalier to my cousin. The red Escort didn't last long as my brother totaled it. It was just as well: red draws too much attention. She later on got a gray (yes another gray car) one. It didn't run as well as the red one but it lasted eight years. For a year, her and I shared the car and then I drove it until 2008 until giving it to my cousin. 

Her final car was her Toyota Corolla that still runs to this day. She finally found a good car and mechanic plus she had the transmission and engine replaced. This car is currently almost 18 years old. I haven't decided what I'm going to do with it yet aside from driving it short distances but I definitely want to keep it for obvious reasons.