Last Time Under The Hood

My husband has worked on cars almost all of his life. He and his father were owners of Jerry's Front End and Brake shop until they closed the doors in the late 90's. Nick also worked for the local dirt track on weekends to make a little extra money.  

They spent many days not only servicing customers cars, but as I can remember, were always piddling on a race car in the side bay. Nicks father had a few race cars as he was a member of Carolina Vintage Stock Car Racing Association ( CVSCRA). One of his race cars was given to a museum. I'm not sure what happened to the others, but there was a last one and the only one I remember. A 1949 Ford. 

Nicks dad raced this car until he was in his 70's. After each race, he would pull it into the home garage and fix the dings and tune it up. Nick and his dad would often be under the hood getting it ready for the next race. His dad passed away about 10 years ago. The race car has sat in the garage waiting for new life ever since. It became dusty, weathered and stalled. 

The day came this past weekend. The car had a buyer. Nick wanted to get it running so the buyer would be satisfied in the purchase. He worked for a few days getting her running. She was alive now. The sound of the motor would make the hairs on the back of your head stand up. 

When the buyer arrived, I was able to snap a photo of Nick under the hood one more time. 

 

She was running like a charm, or like a race car sitting for ten years would sound awaking from a long hibernation. Vroom vroom! Sounded nice but I'm the weird one and liked the smell.

The car was cranked, the money was swapped and it was loaded on a trailer. The buyer said he liked the way it looked. He doesn't plan to paint it to anything different. He also plans to put it back on the track come November.

 

It will race again and I'm sure Nicks dad is looking down and smiling. It was sort of sad to see it leave as all the brothers stood by watching but it was time to let go. 

23 Married Years

Today marks another year of marriage for me and Nick. Twenty-Three of them. Who counting though? When someone ask how long we have been married, We both look at each other and start counting how old my nephew is since we know he was born the same year we were married. 

People say "It goes by fast doesn't it? I say, "no, it feels like weve been married forever". Ha!  We are like two of the same person. Morphed into this old married couple. I think I'm started to look like him too. Ha! 

I've had someone ask "how do you stay married to the same person for so many years?" My reply, "Oh, well hes not been the same person all these years and neither am I". And thats the fun of it. 

Now I'm no professional on marriage but here are a few things I've learned through the years that helped us keep a marriage happy. These are views of my own.

1. Put God in your marrage. It will not survive without him. Pray for guidance and attend church together.
2. Don't argue about everything. If he folds the laundry wrong or puts the dishes in the wrong spot. Dont nag! Just fix it. He tried. We get on each others nerves. We know that, so instead of letting it aggrivate us, we have fun with it and find the cuteness in our differences.
3. Never go to bed or leave the house angry. And go to bed together at the same time.
4. Always kiss
5. Praise each other for things well done and help each other with struggles.
6. My husband is head of my home. The protector of the family and I respect him for that. Show respect. 
7. Don't go against each others wishes. Hear each other out and help each other reach goals.
8. Put your spouse ahead of your kids. They need a happy mom and dad.
9. Do not continue doing things that each other doesnt like. 
10. Marraige is not 50/50 its 100/100.
11. Never us the word divorce. Never let it in your mind.
12. Marriage is not about being strong together but about taking turns being strong for each other.
13. Weekend trips with friends and away from each other is not healthy.
14. Seperate bank accounts are nice. Have one together but also have a seperate personal account so you each can have your own personal money to play with and buy things you want or to buy gifts for each other. 
15. Sit around the table for meals. Talk and listen to each other. 
16. Never stop dating. Make time for this!
17. If ones sad, cheer them up. If ones mad, make them laugh.
18. Walk in the sun and dance in the rain.
And last: love like crazy!!!

I love my Italian man!  He makes me laugh, and rearely makes me mad.
He is my best friend and thats the truth! No other person likes me as much as he does. 
He gets me. 

I think I'll keep him.