It's not hard to put yourself in my flip-flops on that sticky, mid-summer afternoon in downtown Columbia, SC. If I had been interested in this blind date, I might have worried about the sweat soaking each limb, but instead, I shot a text to this mystery guy that I was standing in front of Pawley's Front Porch as agreed, and tipped my head back to soak in a few angry rays of Vitamin D. I tried to recall what photos I had seen of this guy to my mind - tall-ish, buzz cut, goofy grin, giant trophy with a gilded muscle car on top. Oh yea, and an obnoxiously bright orange, black striped hunk of metal behind him. Or at least that's what I thought of Irene at the time.
But I didn't know her yet.
I didn't used to be much of a car person. I didn't used to be a big fan of Army Officers either, until I met Matt. I had no idea that evening in July of 2012 would change so much when a 2011 SRT8 header orange Challenger revved it's engine at the light in front of the restaurant. I didn't know that purr of eight powerful cylinders would soon release butterflies into my stomach every time I heard it. What I thought at the time, actually, was "Great. Two hours with a guy who is going to be way more into his car than me." And a little bit "Man that engine sounds nice..."
Matt, Irene, and myself at the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Corvettes Against Breast Cancer benefit in October 2012.
I know now that the hours that would follow was a lot of self-control on Matt's part - NOT talking about his car, belovedly dubbed "Irene" after a hurricane (a story for another time), or Michigan football (I'm still getting over that one), two of his favorite subjects. But it was for the best. Instead of forcing Irene on me, Matt allowed me to find her qualities all by myself.
Self portrait on the Dragon's Tail in TN. August 2012.
My first ride in Irene was on our fourth date, barrelling down I-20 with a rainbow of other mopars - his car club. They teasingly attempted to make the Dodge-loyal Michigander blush without running me off over the radio, then unleashed the 8-year-old on me to test out my own "cool factor." Matt showed off his control of the manual transmission, and I lost my phone charger to the deep dark depths beneath the passenger sport seat. (Irene's rite of passage for me, perhaps?)
Just a few of the mopars in one of our car clubs after some detailing. Matt's pretty proud of this pic. July 2013.
Over the months that passed, through hours testing the limits of motion sickness on the Dragon's Tail, experiencing the force of 120mph on Atlanta's Motor Speedway at the Corvettes Against Breast Cancer benefit, seeing the family-like affection the car clubs had for Matt, and witnessing his face light up behind the wheel after a 90-hour work week, I found myself becoming fond of both of them.
Now, people ask me on occasion if it bothers me, how "into cars" Matt is, that he named his vehicle, how much time and money he spends on it. You really want to know? Not at all.
Matt and I in front of the 2013 SRT TA Viper Matt got to drive at one of our SRT events. Irene has given us a lot of pretty amazing opportunities for stuff like this. March 2014.
Irene helped me understand the automotive industry a little better; she brought me to this job; she afforded us an opportunity to meet great people and make life-long friends; she gives Matt a sense of pride and a safe haven from the stresses of his job; and, selfishly, she gifts me with uninterrupted quality time on the road with my very busy military man. I'm glad Irene is such a huge part of our lives - and that she always will be. We wouldn't be where we are today without her.
Do I think it's a little weird that I've adopted this affectionate obsession with calling a car by a feminine pronoun? Absolutely. But that's growing on me too.
Matt, Irene, and myself at the Fort Gordon Springfest BOSS Carshow, where we won two trophies - one for club participation, and one for Irene's sweet carpets I got for Matt on his 27th birthday.
That's my #moparlove story - What's yours? Share it with us! Introducing, Heather Cortright, our new Social Media Specialist. Heather graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2011 with a degree in Visual Communications. After a few years working as a photojournalist with the US Army, and a period of time at a non-profit school in Columbia, Heather came to us a photographer, transitioning into our social media position last month. In her free time, Heather volunteers on Fort Gordon and enjoys photographing road trips she takes with her boyfriend and his SRT Challenger. Welcome, Heather!
