Second vehicle gets an upgrade

A few months ago, my husband, Chris, took a financial leap by purchasing a new vehicle. Okay, it wasn’t 100% new because it was formerly owned, but I wouldn’t be stretching the truth at all by saying this 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser was gently used.

I knew he was in “truck love” when he brought it home for a test drive which included a sleepover in front of our house. This made it possible to see the truck whenever we looked out the window.

I had to admit, it was a nice-looking vehicle. It seemed tough like a Tonka truck, but it was black so it didn’t scream “I’m an over-sized toy!” In fact, it was almost begging us to drive it through a mud pit so we could become aware of its full potential.

He finally took me out for a spin which involved a very bumpy road in the woods. He tore through sand and over what may have once been innocent animal dwellings, but we wouldn’t have known because this truck wanted to rip a trail through anything and anywhere we were willing to drive it.

I asked if we would have to buy it if we wrecked it in the woods. We were on a test drive, after all.

He told me not to worry about it.

I checked out the interior and noticed the leather seats and the almost utilitarian lack of anything resembling carpet or fabric on the floorboards. I thought how perfect this would be for the spilling of drinks and possible incidents of motion sickness that would inevitably occur if he continued to bounce me around like he was doing at that moment.

When we returned home, he was giving me the sales pitch again. Considering that he sells cars for a living, I shouldn’t be at all surprised that I was convinced he should make this purchase.

A few days later, his old truck was sold and he took the cash from that transaction, walked it directly into the Toyota finance office, and placed a down payment on the FJ. Talk about money changing hands!

I was kind of concerned that Chris was putting so much faith in the fact that I was supposedly going to have a steady income flowing into the household coffers. I mean, what if I turn out to be a horrible nurse like Ratched from “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” or something else happens beyond my control and I can no longer work?

Once he put my financial fears to rest, I began thinking about how much he really deserves to have something nice to drive. He keeps me in a newer car because I’m usually the one carting the kids around and he feels better knowing I’m piloting something safe and reliable. This is why he’s always been the one to sacrifice and drive the older vehicle with no payment.

People talk sometimes about “stepping up and being a man.” I take for granted that I don’t have to worry about this with Chris. We argue about things and disagree when we don’t see eye-to-eye on issues, but when it comes down to the wire and I need someone to lean on or arms to hold me tight or just want him to take my side and agree that someone else is a total tool, Chris is always the man.

Enjoy your truck, honey. Just try not to tear up the woods too much.