The Silver BB

        

A few months ago, Jeff and I were discussing our plans for future vehicle purchases and groaning over minivan prices. In a somewhat exasperated/joking tone, Jeff said "I should just get a motor scooter!" We looked at each other and...the plan was formed. Instead of "suffering" for years with one car while we somehow saved up five digits of dinero for a van, we realized that a motor scooter, which cost less than a tenth of a van, would solve most of our transportation woes for the next 5 years--or longer. Fast forward to this weekend...

As I have mentioned, over Presidents Day weekend, we went to Seattle. We visited my dear parents and sister, and we bought a motor scooter. It was an easy choice because when we told the salesman our criteria and price range, he had exactly one scooter that fit the bill. Since it was the last one in stock and they were trying to get rid of it, we got this brand new shiny for half price. So, pay your tithing!

Tadaaa! Here it is. I don't know what its official name is. It's Sym-something. I do know that Jeff doesn't even have to get a special  license to drive it because the engine is so small, and it maxes out at around 37 miles per hour. But its gas mileage is a friendly 70 miles per gallon! This thing is awesome. I still haven't had the courage to ride it.

I call it the silver BB. Let me explain why.

Back in high school I drove a silver Mercury Sable that looked like this. When my brother Brad got his driver's license, he inherited this sexy car and lovingly christened it The Silver Bullet, in hopes of increasing its appeal--ha. Well, I named Jeff's new motor scooter after the good ole Silver Bullet. But because the scooter is so small and slow, it needed a smaller name. So it's a BB instead of a bullet. 

I need to write one more story to illustrate this EVENT. We bought the BB in Seattle. We live nearly 200 miles and across a mountain range from there. It would take at least 7 hours to ride this little putt-putt BB that far, due to necessary gas fill-up stops every 70 miles and back roads with lower (safer for slow pokes) speed limits. Enter: my Mom's minivan! Shapow, we folded down the seats, crammed the HEAVY BB into the back, and I rode with her while she drove it halfway across the state for us. What we didn't take into consideration was the scooter's GAS FUMES that filled the van every time we closed the windows. So we drove at 70 mph with the windows down for 3 hours in February! We both felt a little funny by the end of that drive. Gas stinks. But we did live large with some Target shopping and then an Arby's lunch along the way. Two words: curly fries! We kept up an impressively steady shouted conversation amidst the roar of the freezing air through the windows. Thank goodness that van has heated seats. We eventually arrived, and the gas headache hangover has mostly passed by  now too.

The man with his moto. And yes, our garage is that awesome. It's also warm inside, so the previous owner knew what he was doing with all that [ugly] fluffy pink stuff. 

I haven't taken any action shots of Jeff riding the BB, but believe me, I will.

 I love this guy. Real men ride scooters.