My parents recently bought a Lexus SUV, possibly accomplishing their lifelong dream of purchasing a luxury vehicle. They were going for a Tesla for its electric abilities and suddenly more ample supply due to half the country boycotting Elon Musk, but the Lexus likely represents something my mom has always wanted as a status of making it in the world, coming as an immigrant after age 30 to a new land WITHOUT the aid of Internet and without much money to finally achieving that oh-so-elusive American dream, especially with her health not guaranteed, time to enjoy. I personally have a strong relationship with my Honda Accord, purchased 11.5 years ago, before I started my current vocation; before learning Japanese, before getting into trivia, before having even met MJ; I've had a longer relationship with this car than my wife. I often tell people that a car is just a machine to get from one place to another, which is true, but I've now developed an attachment this car, partly due to having gone so many places with it and so many adventures. I've lived in so many apartments, condos, my parents' house, and hotels over the years, so much that I view each place as a temporary location, but my 2013 Honda Accord? That's a permanent lodging situation when I need to drive. I might still be traumatized from the last car I inherited from my parents that I donated to Cars for Kids: one day the donation center just came with their tow truck and took the car, and I never saw it again, after taking out all the CD's and other personal belongings out of it like I was cleaning out my desk at my old workplace. One day I will have to do the same to my Honda Accord, but I just hope it won't be such an unceremonius goodbye with it being brusquely taken away from me. I guess I understand why so many Americans love their cars more than their family now.
Also, I'd try not to spend more than $50,000 for a car.....for a depreciating asset.
Today I played chess for the first time in a live tournament since high school......I felt the nervousness again, the adrenaline rush when the clock was ticking down towards the end, where I had to make a move or else, the sound of pieces on other boards and players hitting their clocks after making a move. It all sounded so familar...this must be what retired players miss about getting on the field, the competitive drive. Also...the incentive to get off your phone. Today was probably the first day in years I stayed off my phone for an extended period of time. Nowadays with everything digitial, basically everything on your phone, it never leaves my hand or my pocket. To put be forced to put the phone down and do something I like better than being on the phone was worth the $60 entry fee. It's fitting that tonight was Oscar night because I identify with the sediment Sean Baker, director of "Anora," said after winning the award for Best Director, which was basically "support local theaters." Theaters are where people can actually become totally immersed in a movie not only because of the huge screen and surround sound effects but also.....you have to put your phone away or get scolded/shamed. Watching a movie and slipping in that world feels a lot like sitting down at a chess board and playing for an hour, hour and a half. I miss the single-minded devotion in high school of winning the match right here, right now, staying in the moment, no worries about anything else in the world, just locked in the zone right now, which is almost impossible in our multi-tasking world. Also, I love the competitive fire, whether it was dodgeball or chess or playing basketball at the college fitness center, I've always gotten a rush from being in any competition, and I've suppressed it for so long that when it does come out, the thrill is real. Wooooooooo!!!!!!!!
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