Thirty four years ago, I bought the house I still live in today. It’s in an older part of my town so there is a fair bit of commercial activity, even industrial, within a stone’s throw of me. I have always liked that. I can walk to stores and restaurants and not have to bother with the car. And when the car gets dirty, well that’s taken care of too. Behind my house, a few hundred feet away, is a car wash. It was here when I moved in and I used to take my little red sportscar there when it needed to be shiny.
The car wash is attached to variety store and there are about five bays. There is nothing automatic; just handheld wands that dispense soap and water. In a bit of an ugrade years ago, the wands also started shooting out wax and a “spot-free” rinse. So for a few bucks, I could get my little faux Ferrari cruising the streets again and getting the looks (especially from women) I was hoping for. I became kind of a regular at the car wash as I spent (and still do) a lot of time wandering the back, gravel roads in my area where I gawk at all the farm operations and am rewarded with sightings of deer, fox and raccoons. Thankfully, no bears.
When I moved into my house, this car wash was one of only a few in my town of 35,000 people. Since then, the car wash industry has exploded. Most of the new ones are automatic, of course. You drive your car slowly through a long building and robots do all the work. And some of them come with added features. A new one opened around the corner from me and it also has a an area for bathing your dog.
This summer, I watched as an old restaurant was torn down and the most magnificent of new car washes was built. I am only guessing at what this one does but I suspect you can take your whole family in there and bath them too, along with the dog. The kicker for this one is you have to have a membership to use it. I don’t know what’s involved in scoring a membership. Maybe an interview. Character references. An inspection of your old jalopy (look that up kids). Criminal record check. A police report. At 68, I am a registered member of absolutely nothing and that is the way I want to keep it. (Actually, I lie. I am a member of the Canadian National Hermit Association. We have meetings twice a year but nobody goes to them.)
Today, one of our cars looked like it had been dipped repeatedly in a tank of mud, so off I went to wash it. At the same old primitive place I’ve been taking my vehicles for more than 33 years. I’ve been there longer than all the current staff of the attached store. I was washing my cars there years before half the staff was even born. All five bays were in use. For the first time, I had to wait. I think this thing could be around in another 33 years when I am 101. By then, I’ll be wheeling my little three-wheeler scooter in there for a touch up.
I wish all the new car washes well, even the elite new one. When I fall in love, whether it’s with a car wash, a restaurant or a woman, I am in it for keeps. That is what some of us oldtimers do. Not expecting to change any time soon.
The Hermit Association convention is coming up.
I won’t be in attendance.
I will most likely be washing my car that day.
©2019 Jim Hagarty
