Funny talk w the wife

I didn't get married until I was 51, which was 34 years after I got my first hot rod, a '66 Valiant with a 340 and 4-speed, and about 30 years after that 340 was transplanted into my '65 Barracuda. During planning for our wedding, it was actually my wife's suggestion that we depart the reception in the Barracuda--with open headers. She always enjoyed riding in it, and seemed to at least have a mild interest in cars. We are approaching our 11-year anniversary, and although she has no objection to my obsession, she has made it obvious that she doesn't share my passion for it. She retreats upstairs after supper every night to watch whatever mindless series or entertainment program she wants to, and no longer has any desire to attend any automotive-related event. She did treat me to a birthday weekend a few years ago at the drag strip in Memphis (including a dinner at a Brazilian steak house), but I don't think she had quite anticipated the decibel level of the Top Fuelers and Funny Cars!

We go to Destin every September for our anniversary trip, and since that week always coincides with Cruisin' the Coast, we had discussed several times that it would be fun to stop for that event on the way back. However, few years ago when I suggested stopping there for a couple of days on the way back, she told me that she didn't know I wanted to stay that long--she was thinking more like a couple of hours! She finally agreed to 4 days/3 nights, but it was readily apparent that the whole thing was pretty boring to her. I think her assessment was something like "Okay, there's a red car, and there's a blue car; can we go now?" She hung in there with me, but we agreed that we would both enjoy it more if I went back to my previous plan of going by myself.

The Barracuda is now undergoing a radical transformation including a full frame and cage, IRS, and aluminum 3rd gen hemi, and she was instrumental in persuading me to pay someone else to do that (so that it will be finished before I am too old to drive it). She doesn't know how much it will cost, so if anyone talks to her about it, let's just tell her it costs about as much as a new car--we just don't have to specify which car!

I guess I should consider myself lucky considering how many people I know who have sold their "toys" to avoid marital strife. At least she still shares my interest in water skiing (although she has not been to a tournament with me in years), and she reminds me that if not for menopause and the associated hot flashes, she wouldn't be skiing with me in December. She tells everyone that the only reason I married her is because she can drive a boat and back a trailer--but it's really her cooking.