I chose my 1969 Ford GT Torino to represent the Chariot in my card. This is my dream car, and I am lucky to have had her in my life. This car has a very deep meaning in my life. It is the symbol of my childhood, it was my first and only choice for a car, and I picked her out when I was 10 years old.
It is a symbol of my freedom in more ways than one. As a teenager it represented freedom from my family. Some time to be alone. Cruising in my muscle car. All about speed and being on the road with the wind blowing my long hair around me. My childhood was in such chaos; I truly used my car to get away from all of my problems. It was my independence; freedom; arrogance and cool. It saved me from an insane family.
So when this card represents Victory after a struggle…whew…I think of my Torino. Triumph over opposition; faith in myself; patience in life; justice in the world all are themes within my personal love of my car.
She became mine at 15 ½ years old; I had been in love with her since my family got her. I learned to drive in her. I drove hours to get away. And when I finally left my marriage of 20 years, there was an ugly court battle. My husband never worked, I was the sole supporter of my family. And he was angry I was no longer going to be his meal ticket. He could no longer control me. I left. He used everything he could to hurt me.
I knew I had to surrender to succeed. This one act brought me the respect of my lawyer. He came to me and told me I could get out of my marriage on some conditions; because I wanted out of alimony, it just made me incredibly angry to write my ex out a check every month when he was perfectly capable of working. The conditions, ½ my retirement, 85% of my IRA that I had been putting into for 16 years, and my 1969 Ford Torino.
He went for my heart. I looked at my lawyer and said “If you haven’t figured it out yet, I would chew off my arms to get out of this marriage…give it to him!” I refused to spend more of my money fighting for “things”…I wanted my freedom. My lawyer patted me on the head and told me I was a good kid, then he walked away to tell them I had agreed to the terms. My heart was breaking. But that car for the second time in my life provided me my freedom.
I grieved. I grieved. I grieved. I thought I would be sad forever. I was inconsolable. And Michael to his credit searched and searched for a replacement to my car. None to be found. I tried to tell him it was a rare car. Only so many were made…and they are old and those that are restored, the owners do not want to give them up. I tried to be happy that I had enjoyed her once. It really wasn’t enough.
Then I received a phone call…my ex was in trouble…he didn’t save money for the tax man from cashing in on my retirement. He NEEDED money. I NEEDED my car.
So…I had a friend go by who happened to be an undercover stolen vehicle detective, irony for me indeed, since my ex stole her from me, and he left a note on the car that he was interested in buying it. The ex bit! And I was able to buy my car back again! This time through a detective looking like a dirt bag…and my boyfriend giving me the money to get her back!
So she is sitting in my drive way and my ex has NO idea that I have her! He thinks he screwed me…and I sit content with my car in the driveway! So I had to use her as my Chariot!
And these words from the song by Stevie Nicks Battle Of The Dragon Lyrics
No one walks away from this battle From the power, it's so strong Like a fury, like a fury Keep that fury deep inside you
I didn’t walk away from the battle, I was empowered and the fury I have is deep, and I am trying to live in less bitterness, less pain, and more freedom…I have my freedom back. I have my childhood back and she is sitting in my driveway!
Michael, the cheerleader in my life, has provided me with my dream car, he told me it was fair since he has his dream car, on December 9, 1999, he was able to buy his, a 1994 Jaguar XJS…and it was important to him that I stop grieving my dream car…and I cannot express the joy I feel with the windows rolled down, the stereo blasting and my hair flying in the wind…sheer joy!
In the sunflowers I put Ripley from Aliens as the cosmic warrior, David Bowie in 1969 and my kids when they were asleep in the Torino as small children.
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