Da Bus

I surrender. Apparently VWs are going to be a part of my life. You’d think I’d have figured this out before I married Luke, before the frantic phone call about the $500 bus on Craig’s List. But it wasn’t until the broken-down rusty bus was actually delivered and dropped in our driveway (by a tow truck) that I realized these automobiles are probably going to continue to be a part of my life.

Maybe it all started with my dad. He bought a VW bus to drive out to California for college, and somehow convinced my mom that she should come with him to attend school at UCSD. It was a long drive from St. Louis, Missouri, to La Jolla, California, and along the way they fell in love. So, I suppose it could be argued that maybe I wouldn't even exist if it weren't for that 1970 VW hippie bus. (A little romantic I suppose.)

That bus wouldn't be the last for my parents. When my brother was born, making us a family of six, it was time for a new car that would actually fit all of us. They purchased our VW vanagon. It was the car on which I would later learn to drive. (Let me tell you learning to drive a stick shift red vanagon through town was a bit of a challenge for a brand new driver! It was hard to stay inconspicuous.) As a teenager I would pack that van full of friends and drive to parties, dances, band shows... I still have a special place for that car in my heart.

Then Christmas morning. I was 16, and after all the presents were opened, my dad picked up a small box I hadn’t noticed. It was wrapped up and sitting on top of the mantel. In it was a single key with the VW emblem on it. I went running outside and sitting in the driveway was my 1967 VW bug with a big red bow on it. It was my first car, and I was in love. It had it’s issues, a horn that would get stuck, or just beep if I drove over a bump, but that was all part of the car's personality.

Then Luke also drove a VW bug. His was white, and a year older, but our bugs are tied up in the memories of the beginning of our love story.

Fast-forward to summer after my freshman year at UC Santa Cruz. Luke bought his first VW bus. It was a “project” (to say the least). But after lots of work, the bus ran, and it was cool. (Literally, it was cool. Winter nights up in Santa Cruz driving in the bus with the air that seeped through the old windows and doors... it was cold.) But he loved that car, and okay, I have to admit I kinda liked it too.

So fast forward 10 years and Luke is talking again about his bus and how much he enjoyed it. I should have known it was coming. He had been helping a buddy work on his bus, and had gone to a VW show... and well I should have known it was only a matter of time. But we have three kids (5 and under!), so needless to say, spare time and extra money are things that are hard to come by these days.

But still, when he called to ask me about buying the 1965 bus that didn’t run, and needed “some work,” I was surprised. Honestly, I thought he'd think through it and change his mind. I mean another thing in our garage?! (It's already overflowing with our tent-trailer, strollers, bins of baby clothes, tools everywhere, bikes, outgrown toys, and the laundry, ahh the laundry...) Not to mention the precious time and money this “investment” was going to require. So you can probably imagine my response.

But Luke was excited about it, and had a vision of what the bus "could be." And for some reason I just couldn't say no. So, two days later the bus was dropped off in our driveway. (It has since been moved into our garage, a miracle in itself considering the lack of space in our garage, and the fact that the bus doesn't run and has no brakes.)

But it's growing on me. I see the kids playing in it, Luke studying his owner manuals, his excitement when he talks about it, and for some reason I think it will all work out. Because for whatever reason, VWs seem to keep presenting themselves, and so far they have brought only love and fond memories into my life...


A photo montage of the VWs...


My dad with his bus.

My mom camping during the drive out to California with my dad. (1973)


Me in our family's vanagon getting ready to drive Luke, me, and a group of friends to Luke's senior prom. (1995)


My bug on Christmas morning. I had to drive it over to each of my friends' houses. (1993)




Luke's 1966 bug.



Me and Luke with his first bus. We were 19 and 20, and the photo was taken before Luke left to drive up to UCSC. (This was probably one of the last photos of me before my diagnosis of diabetes that would come two months later.) (1997)



And the newest VW... in all her glory!