Why One Arm is Darker than the Other

Since getting the 1972 Volkswagen FrankenBeetle out from the shop, a lot of things have changed. For one thing, I now reserve a column for ‘Gas’ in my expenses spreadsheet and as soon as BPI approves my application, I’ll have a bank account for car contingencies. I’ve also applied for a savings account with life insurance bundled in – you know, in case I de-limb myself in a horrible accident.

Aside of being partially ready for accidental dismemberment, other changes have happened. For one thing, as my mother so kindly pointed out, my left arm is two shades darker than the right one. What changes have happened?

1.     I am not ashamed to be seen in a car that seems to be held together by rust and cracking rubber. It is 41 years old, and by sheer force of will and mechanical miracles, it is running. After 3 and some years of being parked in various places, it rose back from the dead.

2.     I have masking tape in the car. Why? Because I need it to keep my air vents in place (while driving). We were taping the windows in place while gassing up, and the gas station crew and the owner of the Vios beside us stared in wide-eyed wonder.

3.     For entertainment during drives from Quezon City to Buendia, Pasay City, Remi and I have resorted to singing ditties. The radio works, but I don’t have speakers. I don’t plan to get speakers any time soon, I enjoy listening to the steady rumbling of the engine. I’ve come to take note all of its small burps and backfires.

4.     Whenever we see another bug on the street, I beep twice. They beep, flash their lights, and wave back. It’s like I’ve joined a cult. An obsessive, extremely geeky cult, though extremely nice and good-natured. (While at Kuya Nards’ shop last Sunday, we saw a silver 1966 Beetle. The owner was buying parts, and I was having my front shocks replaced. He chatted us up, and he noticed my lack of bumpers. He gave me his card, told me that if I want bumpers, he’ll give me the ones he has at home if I could drive to Imus, Cavite. Also, we passed a beautiful brown bug on Boni Serrano, and the driver flashed his lights twice, beaming the entire time.)

5.     The largest part of the adventure of getting from Point A to Point B is whether we’d get there at all. I’ve taken to calling the car Sheer Luck (or formally Sherlock) because of this.

6.     My Want List now has 2 shock absorbers and 2 tires at the top of the list. (I’ve already replaced the front 2 shocks and tires.) Disc brakes and a new paint job are my new expensive daydreams.

7.     I now groan with Remi whenever Alvin Elchico announces a gas hike. (In other news, however, I’ve only gassed up twice in two weeks.) I also have a schedule for oil changes, tune-ups, and brakes checks.

8.     As previously mentioned, one arm is darker than the other. Simply, I drive with the windows down. I’m not sure if I’ll have the AC unit in the car fixed.

9.     I now know that I have a 1972 German Volkswagen Beetle with a 1600cc engine (that came from a Brasilia). It will take about 40 liters of gas for a full tank, and is a comfortable ride once you replace the old shocks.

10. It’s amusing to see people hitting each other when I pass by. It’s the slightly twisted, but ages old game of Pendong Peace.

Image via: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=507145&p=55532781&viewfull=1#post55532781

So anyway, yeah. That’s why one arm is darker than the other arm. Any more questions?