greatbear | Words! part the third

This episode of Words! brought to you by

mark_monroe and his killer smile.

1: Minis - I was always a fan of the tiny original British Minis. Living near (and practically in) Fort Meade during my youth I had a chance to see quite a few. When I heard the cars were being redesigned and destined for the U.S. market for the first time in decades, I was pretty sure I wanted one. When I finally saw them up close and personal, it was confirmed. In March of '03, I left the house and came back with a MINI Cooper S practically on a whim. The car is still a flat-out blast to drive, very practical and economical. And with the mods I made, pretty damn quick. I fell in with a huge group of enthusiasts and have been gathering by the hundreds in Deal's Gap NC for the Tail of the Dragon and nearby drives and events ever since. Lots of great people. And every single car is different.

2: Jeff - Though I have answered this one before, it goes without saying that he means the world to me. So a repeat is more than welcome.

3: Tinkering - A generic term I used for fixing, building, modifying or just plain geeking out in my various hobbies. Not specific to any particular size or type of job either, 'tinkering' might mean putting an addition on a house to changing a light bulb. Tinkering in it's many forms for me has been around since I was very young. The term comes from when I had "Tinkertoys" and various other engaging activity toys as a young'un.

4: Mechanic - An offshoot from all that tinkering, being naturally mechanically gifted meant that being a mechanic would be both a profession and a hobby. Repairing engines and cars well before I could legally drive them, hanging out with other guys building and working on cars and being naturally curious about anything mechanical in nature has made such endeavors almost instinctive.

5: Mom - She was everything to me. A parent, a friend, someone I could confide in. She taught me so much, and allowed me to make mistakes as well as take on responsibilities that taught me well, starting off very young. I thought she'd be around forever. I never thought for an instant that I would lose her in such a horrible fashion. I still miss her dearly, and my life still feels directionless since she's been gone. Oftentimes, I still don't believe she's really gone. Love ya, Mom.

How it works: Reply to this meme by yelling "Words!", and I will give you five words that remind me of you. Then post them in your journal, and explain what they mean to you.