Opinion

The sounds of adolescence

Friday, September 17, 2010
Jared Jernagan

As you read this, I should have my Mini back. As of Thursday, it's been exactly one month since that fateful night in August when its clutch finally breathed its last.

It's been a tough couple of months for editors' cars here at the Banner Graphic. First my clutch died, then Jamie's car was totaled when she was rear-ended while waiting to turn into her driveway.

In her case, the car was totaled. I can hardly complain in comparison to that.

But the one thing that's been nice about her not having a car is the sweet new rental she's been rocking for the last couple of days. It's a 2010 Ford Focus, which is nice, but the best part is its satellite radio. (Company name omitted because they refused to pay me for the name drop.)

I had the chance to borrow the car Thursday when I needed to go to the jail for Putnam Scanner information. She had it on the '80s station, which was fine, but I decided to explore.

I first found Hair Nation -- which, I suppose, is a stepchild of the '80s channel -- and rocked Skid Row's "18 and Life" on the way to the jail. It was an outstanding time, but it made me all too conscious of my crew cut and growing bald spot. Ah, for the days of feathered hair.

On the return trip, though, I opted for something more of my generation -- Lithium. I assume they drew the name from the Nirvana song, as it plays 1990s alternative. In the short trip back, I got Lenny Kravitz's "Are You Gonna Go My Way?", Nirvana's "Molly's Lips" and Nine Inch Nails' "Down In It."

I decided to honor the memory of Spinal Tap and turned it up to 11.

It was like high school, only on a good sound system, not the aging speakers of my '89 Mustang.

Upon parking the car, I turned it down and returned it to the '80s station. I didn't want a call from my editor saying she was deaf from a blast of Stone Temple Pilots at 95 decibels.

But those fun times should be at an end now, and the days of convenience returning. My wife and I will have two cars, which should be nice.

It's been rough trading off, and will get even tougher as she gets back into her work schedule following maternity leave.

Now that the clutch is working again, I know there are other pressing needs for the car. Its exhaust sounds awful, and its hatch has been broken for about three years.

All I really want for it, though, is a satellite radio and some new speakers.