Sister Shenanigans

As some of you know, I am the eldest of 3 girls.  Like most families we have our ups and downs but the bond we shared we could not break ourselves no matter how bad the disagreement was.

Our Dad is Portuguese and Mom, something between Scottish and German.  We were raised with an extremely strict hand and core values were instilled from birth with buckets of creativity that has been passed down from grandfathers before us.

We finished high school and starting our tertiary education a 3^rd vehicle was much needed in the household.

I fondly remember the negotiations we had to enter into convincing my dad. Mom in the background chiming alongside us 3 girls, with the negotiations. We didn’t mind what it was as long as it moved us from point A to point B. We would have been proud and ecstatic either way. Our excitement could not be contained.

So the day arrived that my dad pitched at home with a white Mini Cooper. A 1970 something model with Red vinyl seats and black carpet interior. We were in heaven! The freedom attached to this was absolutely the biggest event of our lives. I remember the first day we drove with the car to the College, a bus stopped next to us and we couldn’t see the top section of the Bus Tyre. All 3 of us burst out laughing when the realization hit how small the car actually was. Needless to say, we stayed behind the bus for the rest of the trip to college.

I was on a video call with Tan-yah, my younger sister, a while back and we went back in time chatting and laughing again about the shenanigans in the Mini. She reminded me how we tie dyed large pieces of fabric and covered the seats by ourselves and Mom and Dad who helped with revamping the carpets.

Times spent together as a family fixing the car, my mom and dad would tell us how they used to drive their first car around.

Also a Mini Cooper. Mom would tell how the car was to small for my Pram (Stroller) they had to remove the wheels before being able to fit it in the back. I don’t know where I fitted in, if at all. LOL

The Mini didn’t have a radio but quick to think on our feet we used our portable one. Michel, the youngest, who didn’t have her Drivers license yet, was the designated back seat occupier. This also made her the radio controller.  Experiencing some connection problem with the radio signal, Michel the savvy thinker that she is, opened the window and held the radio just outside the car. Perfect signal! Couldn’t ask for any better, but alas, the only issue with that was that we then couldn’t hear the radio at all. So back into the car the radio came.

We discovered that the previous owner drilled a hole in the rear of the Mini roof for an aerial but removed it when he sold the car, so next DIY plan we used the hole to push our portable radio antenna through and as we drove, Michel was in charge of holding the radio mid air. We laughed more at that image of her holding the radio than us listening to it.

One Saturday evening, Michel and Tan-yah were dolled up to go to a party. Tan-yah wasn’t to sure of where the party was exactly and made a wrong turn. So she drove into someone’s driveway to attempt a U turn and carry on to her destination.

So once in the driveway, starting to reverse out she encountered a standstill of some sorts. The owner of the driveway had a little sand/gravel wash away from the curb and the Mini couldn’t get over this little ditch that any normal car would be able to ease out of. So poor Michel was told to help and push. I’m laughing already.

Now trying to get momentum going,  Michel could rock the car but it sure as heck didn’t want to get over this little bump. Tan-yah was forced to get out and help push. See the error already.  Getting the car out of the ditch all dolled up with someplace to go. The Car, in neutral, decided okay. Here I go. And there it went rolling down the hill as if on a Sunday stroll. With no driver! Tan-yah and Michel running after the Mini. High heels, make up, hair all sprayed and moussed up. Bet you those pretties didn’t last long after pushing and running after a 1970s Mini Cooper.

Tan-yah managed to get to it in time. Jumped in and stepped on the breaks. Preventing any mishap. I can see the headlines. “Mini Cooper runaway into neighbors pool. Owners missed party”. Needless to say, both returned home to freshen up. They looked like couple ladies that had a fight with an otter. Our laughs about our shenanigans has never stopped in our family. I think it will be told to generations to come.

I had my share of laughs as well. Year end at Technikon. We were art students with a lot of art work, sculptures, paintings and art supplies. We loaded that Mini to the brim. Every corner that could fit something had a sculpture or art supplies tucked inside. I must add, we had a friend and her art work of course as well. If you had wheels you will leave no student behind.

Our route home had many speed humps, and understanding the height of the Mini from the ground up this is absolutely a no – go for a loaded Mini Cooper. Our only way over the humps was me, stopping before the hump. Everyone got out. I drove over. Everyone got back in. Took us a bit longer to get home but we got there. Killing ourselves laughing.

One stage we had some issues with the Mini dying on us and not wanting to start again. As luck would have it getting some supplies at the shops and wanting to return home it was dead. Two, or was it three,  good looking guys came up to us, asking if there is a problem. Explaining the guy said okay we will help you to push start the car. Okay, I’m game. But little did they know, I had no idea what my roll would be, in this process of push starting a car. So I sat like a queen while they pushed the car around the parking lot and shouting: OK NOW!

I’m like, OK now WHAT!?

Guy: Start the CAR!!

ME: Looking confused at the gauges in the car. Nothing is happening. What do they want from me!

Guy: Drop the clutch!

ME: Huh!?

Guy: DROP THE CLUTCH! PUT IT IN SECOND GEAR AND DROP THE CLUTCH (Very breathless by know. I wonder why?)

They stopped pushing. I get out with a sheepish grin. The one guy asks. Don’t you know how to push start a Car? I just shrugged my shoulders saying, I’m sorry!

He got in and his friend pushed. 5 Seconds later we were driving home having such a big laugh praying we will never see these guys again. That night my dad explained the steps and I now can confidently say, I can push start a car. Funniest ever.

I honestly have so many stories. Our sister conversations bring new recollection of funny things that happened and we can laugh again at each other.

These memories bring joy to our hearts. And by sharing it we spread that joy. It becomes infectious. Someone will hear it, laugh with us, and tell the story to someone else and so it will go on.

We need to grab each moment in our lives and hold onto them. Remember and never let go. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. We are so bombarded with doom and gloom news. We forget to find the joy in the moments. When we stay in Joy, the power of negativity and bad news is lost. So grabbing onto my joy once again and thinking of more funny stories of 3 artist sisters in a white

Mini Cooper owning the world!

Share with me your first car funny stories. I would love to laugh with you.