- What kind of car do you own?
A Buick LaSabre. You know, the top of this line is the Park Avenue, and this is the next one down. It’s called a Limited.
- How did you come to choose this car?
When the kids were little back in the 60’s, we were able to get ahold of a used Buick. It was practically brand new. We were really pleased. After that, that’s all we wanted.
- What do you like about your car?
It’s safe; the color; it rides and drives beautifully; there’s little need for maintenance. It almost drives itself.
Yes, it’s so smooth running. I hardly have to make an effort.
- Think back to yesterday, when you used your car. What happened for you when you used it, from the time you got in the car to the time you got out? I’m interested in everything—not just the making-the-car-go actions.
Well, I got in the car and I got mad.
Yes. The garage door opener wouldn’t open the door. You know, I’ve been having some trouble with it opening the door when I come back into the garage. I can’t just push the button anymore; sometimes I have to squeeze it and push the button to get it to work. I think maybe something is loose inside. It’s been happening ever since I changed the battery. I’ve taken it apart a dozen times. I just can’t get it to work. I can’t figure out why.
- So, yesterday was the first time you had trouble with it when you wanted to go out of the garage?
Yes and I’m worried. It’s getting worse. I think I’ll ask Dan (son-in-law) to look at it. But it can take him a while to do things.
- How did you get out of the garage?
After a lot of pushing and squeezing, and the opener finally worked.
- Then what did you do when you were driving yesterday?
I listened to the radio. I have it set to come on automatically.
- What do you listen to on the radio?
Morning talk shows. I like Rush Limbaugh and that local fellow . . . . . I can’t remember his name just now . . . although if someone doesn’t agree with him, he’s quite rude and I don’t like that.
- What else do you listen to?
Just that for the radio. I don’t like the afternoon shows. I also listen to tapes. Classical, moldy oldies. I’m not into rock and roll or country western. A little of that goes a long way, as far as I’m concerned.
- Do you ever listen to CD’s?
You know, when I bought this car, I decided against having a CD player put in. Also an outside temperature gauge. I was a little unsure about my finances at the time. Jim (her husband of 41years) had died just a couple of years before. I just wasn’t so sure about things and about money. You know, I was raised to be pretty frugal. When I was growing up, we always had enough, but there wasn’t a lot extra. So I’m not used to spending extra. Now, things are more secure. I’ve been so fortunate in these recent years. I’ve wound up much more financially well off than I ever thought I would be. Actually, I’m getting a little tired of this car.
- Why are you getting tired of it?
So many other people have almost the same car in this same color. There are at least six of them around town!
- If you bought a new car, what would you want?
Elaine has a foreign car. It’s a small SUV. I like that. I could be up high. I like to sit up high, like you can in a pickup. That’s one thing I don’t like about the LeSabre. I can’t see much when backing up. But I don’t want to go much smaller than the LeSabre because if you get in an accident you can really get hurt. I suppose I’ll drive this car for as long as it goes.
- Are you usually driving alone? Do you drive with passengers?
Around town, I’m usually on my own. Sometimes I’m with Tracy or Andrew (her grandchildren). My sister Billie and I are usually together on the long drives.
- Tell me about the long drives with your sister.
Last Thursday, for example, we drove to Sisters. Mid-June and it was cold and rainy. Can you believe that?
- It has been cold. What happens when you and Billie are in the car?
Oh, we visit.
Yes, it seems like we always have something to say to each other. It’s been that way for 70 years. But, you know, my sister is not a really educated woman. She gets most of her information from television. So, we talk a lot, but we don’t really talk about much in depth. I wish she read US News and World Report or something.
- In the last six months, what trips have you taken with her?
Oh, that’s a hard question. I don’t really remember. Let me see . . . it’s really nothing for me to call her up and say, “Let’s drive to Corvallis today!” (60 miles away) We also drove out a couple of times to shop for the cruise. And we went out to the coast—out to Grant’s Pass. We passed some time in Florence and looked around the Old Town. The coast drive was beautiful, but it was hard to find a pull-off to look at the view. It was crowded. The pull—offs were all full.
- How do you know what route to take on these long drives?
There’s hardly anyplace in Oregon that I don’t know. All those years of trips with Jim all over the state. And all those trips out to Prineville when Jeff (son) was with the sheriff’s department out there.
- Do you ever use maps or other navigation devices?
I don’t need to use maps for Oregon.
- I heard you were considering a trip to Texas. How about for that trip?
Billie and I went to Triple A and they showed us the routes we could take. It was a snap for me. I can take a map and plot out the route easy.
- How about GPS, the technology that can help you find a route when you’re in the car?
I wouldn’t trust it. And it might be hard to use it with my bifocals. You know, when I first had this new pair made, they made them too high and I could see the line when I drove. That was so annoying! I got them fixed and it’s better now. And, you know, you have to be careful when you’re using all that technology in the car. Why a few years ago, the Vice President of the Albany school district had just bought a car, was driving the Corvallis/Albany highway, and had a wreck. You know why? He was fiddling with the CD player.
- So, tell me about what you’re thinking for the Texas trip.
You know, we talked ourselves out of that trip. I realized I couldn’t go all that way without another driver. Billie doesn’t drive. If she did, we’d probably be going. But, I was worried about all that driving and I started to ask myself: “Why are we going? Just o see some old cousins? An old farm? And suppose Billie doesn’t do well in the heat? I don’t want her to get sick.” You know, at a certain point, the mind is willing, but the body isn’t. You just can’t do what you did ten, twenty, even five years ago.
- Do you use a cell phone in the car?
I had one for emergencies. But I never used it. I gave it up. Jim had a telephone in the car. He used it for business. He’d start putting people to work. He liked gadgets. I’m sure if he were still alive, we’d have the latest gadgets. I just like to make sure I have all the basics. You know what I have in the car? A first aid kit, a screw driver, a picnic basket, a rain poncho, a plastic bag, pillows and two blankets. No whistle though. I know you’re supposed to carry one—but I don’t . I’m always prepared. And when Billie and I go on a long driving trip, I also take food—cheese, veggies. But no flares—I’m afraid of them and wouldn’t know what to do. Light it with a match? Pull it out?
- Are the materials inside the car important to you?
Yes, most definitely. I like leather seats. The others don’t slide. And leather is easier to clean. I also like it when a car has bags on the back of the driver and front passenger’s seats. They’re quite convenient.
- What do you want your car to feel like?
Comfort! I’m spoiled. I want room. We always stuck to Buicks because Jim was so tall. He just didn’t have headroom in other cars.
- What don’t you like in cars?
I don’t like auto windows. There should always be a way to roll the window up and down even if the car is off. Otherwise, people can drown.
- What kind of car don’t you like?
Well, I don’t want a Corvette.
- What other cars do you like?
The two-door Mercedes. I like the look of those. It reminds me of when I was 18 and almost bought an MG. My brother-in-law talked me out of it. I’ve always regretted it. I still think about that car. But you know, my father was gone. I had no husband and no brothers. Just my brother-in-law. Billie’s husband. I had great respect for him. It was small and neat and only cost $1800. I could have afforded it. I still think about that car.
Oh, I didn’t buy a car at all. But I met Jim not too long after that, and he had a car.
- What do you recall about that car?
It wasn’t much, that I do recall. He was in college and couldn’t afford much. It got us around.
- You’ve mentioned the Buicks, MG’s and Mercedes. Are there any other cars you’ve had, or wished you’d had?
When the children got old enough to drive, we had a series of VW’s. Oh, they loved those cars! They just had to have them.
- What did they love about them?
Well, at the time, VW’s were so popular. And my boys they were popular too. You know, they both played football. Jeff played in college too. So I guess it was just natural that they wanted a popular car.
- Any other cars you’ve had, or wished you had?
We had the VW’s and the Buicks. I still think about that MG.
Posted at Jun 27/2005 08:16AM:
David Platt:
Field Interviews
Interview 28 (zaslow)
