Clear the Roads....

For years my husband has been telling me that I need my own car - but honestly after the whole driving debacle of 2008 - I was a little car shy. 

Plus the fact that I was still in denial about the fact that we would be staying here for any long period of time.  I mean I didn't want to buy a car if we were leaving in a couple of months.  But now that I'm in my new "acceptance" mode and expecting our second child we knew we would have to make the investment soon enough and in an automatic car no less.

I spent my days staring at all of the cute European cars on the road dreaming up the pros and cons of such cars.  I always pictured myself in a cute Italian car that left no room for car seats but that I would look absolutely great in...such as the Fiat 500 (doesn't it look like a toy)

My husband suggested a smart car, because then I wouldn't have to parallel park (which I don't know how to do by the way)... I mean, look I could park this thing anywhere and put the kids in the trunk or on the roof maybe...

But alas, all of these were pipe dreams because while we loved to talk about it, we hadn't done anything about it.

Then came the message from above, in email form none-the-less about the used automatic car for sale.  It belonged to an expat family that was heading back to the states and they wanted to sell it.  It's as if it was made for me.  It's 7 years old and only had 12000 miles on it (um...brand new).  We went out to take a look and we were SOLD.  

It's a Renault Scenic the closest thing to a mini-van that you will probably see in France.  Isn't she pretty...I've named her Minnie...

Now the kids won't have to ride in the trunk and my husband can stop chauffeuring me around...it's a win-win!  Plus since this fell right around my birthday, my husband now gets to tell everyone how he bought me a car - earning him major husband points and bragging rights to anyone who asks.

Now I just have to change the plates and registration and spend an eternity at the prefecture (city hall) and oh yea...learn to parallel park.  It's always something here in France!