My dad went through a phase of getting a Ford station wagon every two years, back in the 1960s. Then he got a promotion and felt th need for a more prestigious car. He had a choice between a ‘68 Oldsmobile 98, and a ‘66 Lincoln. The Lincoln was light metallic blue, with light blue leather interior, and of course, suicide doors. I WANTED that Lincoln!!

Dad bought the Olds. He kept it for two years - two years of going over every bump twice because it was so long; two years of the interior getting hot as an oven from the black vinyl top whenever it sat in the sun; two years of having the skin on the back of my thighs vulcanize to the vinyl upholstery any hot summer day.

Then he went in a completely different direction, and traded the Olds for a Citroen DS21.

In Rural Pennsylvania.