Hello and welcome to episode #237 of Eye-Opening Moments Unleashed where you’ll hear stories of adversity, encounters, and perspectives intertwined. They are moments that can lift your spirits, give you some food for thought, or move you. For the introspective mind that likes to reflect, discover, and find solutions or meaning in a complex life, this is for you. I’m your host Emily Kay Tan. In this episode, you will hear about The Hybrid He Bought.
The Hybrid He Bought
It was the day before my birthday twenty years ago; Devin said he was picking me up, and we were going to a car dealership. He said he wanted to look at the hybrid cars. Curious to learn more about hybrids, I did a search and discovered some features that interested me because it was like no car that I knew about before it: It was quiet with no grinding engine sound. It had a built-in navigator, so I would no longer need to use maps or write down directions. It looked compact on the outside to easily get a parking spot, but it was roomy on the inside. Importantly, it had good gas mileage. The Toyota Prius was a reliable car. It appealed to me. Devin knew I needed a more reliable car because I drove to different locations each day to meet clients far and near. He mentioned the Prius to me before. I was excited in anticipation of seeing some hybrid vehicles.
Upon arrival at the dealership, Devin went straight to the hybrids. I liked that he did his research and knew exactly what he wanted. He asked me what color I liked. I told him the light gray one looked nice. He agreed, and I smiled because he asked me. We sat in one of the hybrids together. Feeling overjoyed, I enjoyed the roomy feel in the car. The navigator fascinated me because I had never seen one before. All I had to do was type in an address, which would verbally direct me to my destination. Getting to the back seats, I put them down to see how much extra room I would get if I had things to haul home. Indeed, the spacious trunk and backseat area provided ample room for my purchases or large items.
Next, we took it for a test drive. It was so quiet that you wouldn’t even know you were in a car. It ran so smoothly compared to my old clunker. Devin had told me I needed a more reliable car as I traveled to different locations to meet clients daily. The navigator was essential since I needed to go to many unfamiliar places. Good gas mileage was crucial because I met with clients far and near. The beautifully clear surround sound of the speakers for long trips would be heaven.
Devin was soon ready to purchase the light gray Toyota Prius. My excitement reached towering heights but quickly dropped below the Earth like a sinkhole, and it swallowed me. The car was for himself; it was not for me.
Because it was almost my birthday, I thought Devin was buying me a car. Because he said he wanted me to go with him, I thought he wanted to buy me a car. Because he asked for the color I liked best, I thought he wanted to buy the car for me. I was gravely mistaken. Though I loved the car, the disappointment was not so much about not getting it for me; it was about something else.
Devin had harped at me about getting a new car because I did not have a reliable one for all the driving I needed to do in my business. I had shared with him how my car struggled to climb uphill on a freeway I frequented; it moved slower, which could be dangerous on a highway where everyone was moving faster. He said I was not saving on gas because I did not have good gas mileage on my car. He gave me all the good reasons to get a new car. They were logically sound reasons, but it would be a considerable expense for me. So, I hesitated to make any quick purchase.
I never liked anyone suggesting what I should do. But in this instance, I thought that since I did not jump to buy one and Devin kept nagging me about it, why didn’t he buy me one?! My birthday would have been the perfect chance for him to do it, but he didn’t.
Devin said I could use my credit card to buy it and make monthly payments. That made it affordable. Though I never got a car for my birthday from Devin, there was a small moment when I thought I could have a boyfriend who bought me a car. After all, I had seen it in the movies. Besides, he had enough money, and we were in a serious relationship, so why hadn’t he bought it for me already?
Though I was a bit disappointed, it did not stop me from doing something about it. The trip to the dealership did whet my appetite for the Toyota Prius. So, I decided to buy it as a birthday present for myself. Like a teenager getting a brand new car for the first time, this middle-aged woman floated in ecstasy to finally have the experience of buying and enjoying a new car for the first time!
Key Takeaway: Though my boyfriend didn't buy me a hybrid, I bought one myself.
Next week, you will hear a new real-life story called Three Sisters or Zero. If you enjoyed this episode of Eye-Opening Moments Unleashed, please text someone and ask them what they think about this podcast, or go to www.inspiremereads.com and leave a message. Thank you for listening!
