New Math

"Forty." Richard says as I sit poised in front of the calculator. I punch in 4 - 0.
"Divided into one thousand six hundred and forty three."
I hit the clear button.
"Why do you always do that to me? You say it backwards. What was the number again?" I ask.
"It's not backwards," he whines.
"Yes it is. Say one thousand six hundred and forty three divided by forty. That's how it has to go into the calculator." By now I'm totally exasperated.

Anyone who knows us knows will know that Richard is thirteen years older than me. He's really quick at doing math problems in his head. It's taken me awhile to figure out what our disconnect is when it comes to electronic devices. He doesn't know how to turn on the computer. But he knows exactly what he can use it for. He's very familiar with the term information super highway. Whenever he needs to know something, I'm the first person he asks to look it up on Yay Who as he calls it.

"When did they start teaching new math in school?" The light bulb finally turned on in my head.
"I have no idea. What's new math?" he responded.
"The difference between you and me," I said. "Forty one point zero seven five."
"Well you do look pretty good for your age," Richard winked.
New math. The way to a woman's heart. Or is it old math. Either way it sure works for me.

From Pinto to Prius

With all the news reports of runaway Prius' on the road, I now give my trusted Penelope Prius a loving pat on the dashboard before I fire her up. I love my 2008 Prius. She's perfect for me.

I started thinking what my attraction was to recalled cars. In the late seventies, after graduating from college, my grandmother gave me $500 to get myself a car. I got a used pea green Pinto. It was perfect for me. The small compact car got me where I wanted to go, to my first job in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Then they started catching on fire. I kept driving. Once I was stopped on the road by a local news crew. Cameras rolling, I gave them an interview and then told all my friends to watch me on the six o'clock news. My car made me a star!!

My cars changed over time but the ones I remember the most all start with 'P'. After meeting Richard we bought a Pontiac 6000. Once we had a fight over who was going to drive it. I threw my engagement ring at him so I could have the Pontiac. Obviously we made up. At about 90,000 miles we traded that for the next P car.

A car I really loved was my Volkswagen Passat. I felt I'd arrived in that car. My dream car, hunter green with tan leather interior made me feel important. Tight German engineering made it a pleasure to drive. And the sound system. To die for!

In my Prius I have all those things in my car that I earned one by one over the years. Leather seats, sound system, back up camera, keyless entry. So now when I get into my Prius and put the pedal to the metal, a pang inside me says, "Is it me? Or is it the letter 'P'?" I think for a minute and then say to myself, "In 'P' I trust."