Local Dashboard Seeks Saint Barbara
Because our last car threw itself a Viking funeral while we were driving it, we're clearing some space on our new dashboard for St. Barbara. "O Beautiful Maiden once imprisoned in a high tower, protect us from the fire that rages in our engine."
St. Agatha, St. Catherine of Siena, or some other fire-retardant saint may work, but we've got a sentimental attachment to Barbara. She's invoked against fires that come as flaming bolts from the blue, a phenomenon with which we're a mite more familiar than we'd like to be. And we may not be religious, but we're not immune to kitsch.
If anyone out there has crafted a funkier, dashboard-compatible representation of St. Barbara -- statue, medallion, stained glass -- than the one available at the Discount Catholic Store (pictured), drop us a line. We'll even discuss commissions.
New car: Honda CR-V, royal blue, with the navigation system. We loved dealing with Craig at Honda of Seattle, who was informative but not pushy during the test drive and efficient though busy on the sale day (206-654-6867 or craigs@hondaofseattle.com -- tell him James sent you and we'll share any graft). We didn't love dealing with the finance guy, but who does? Nice enough, but slow; during the hour-long paperwork finale, our daughter loudly demanded "Out! Out!" -- a tiny little id speaking for all of us.
We voiced our own id by blasting "Sing Me Spanish Techno" on the drive home, and asking ourselves who the patron saint of fire prevention was.
