Hi all! CARLTON! Your diatribe on cars was absolutely lovely and precise! This former New Yorker agrees with you 100%. Oh how I miss the subways and taxis and buses that get you anywhere you need to go, quickly and inexpensively. And you don't need a designated driver ever! I miss the days when I could put on my roller blades and go anywhere in the city. My little brother still moves about the city on blades, pushing his amp and guitar equipment around in a souped-up shopping cart. Even with my largest harp, I could always find a car or limo service that would get me to the church on time. Here in Central PA, I think most folks feel it's impossible to get to the bathroom without having at least one SUV, one minivan and a pick-up on stand-by in the driveway. I drive a 1993 Escort wagon (36 miles to the gallon) named Emma, who has more flat cargo space than almost every SUV out there. She holds the harp, the PA gear, the electronic piano, a passenger plus at least 4,329 empty water bottles under the seats. Because I'm starting to travel more, I also bought a Chevy Astro (17 gallons to the mile) named Andrew, who is a big luxurious no-bullshit type of car -- he stays parked until I really need him. The single worst thing about having to drive everywhere is that I no longer have time to read for pleasure. Oh, how I loved slurping down a novel every two days on the subway to work. Maybe that's why the people down here talk about the weather so much -- they never have a chance to read. Some favorite authors: Louise Erdrich, Par Lagerkvist, Edward Hays, Morgan Llywelyn and other such modern literaturists. Best book in the world that everyone should read just because it is such a sensual rush: "Like Water for Chocolate" by Esquivel. I read it every so often just to stay human. Regards, Harper Lou
