daddy got a new car

My grandfather and aunt pose in front of his new car in Kumasi, Ghana, 1985

Sometime shortly after the turn of the millennium, my dad came home with a car that has become something of a legend in the family. It was the first time I saw a new car parked in the driveway.

Though, the ‘98 Toyota 4Runner Limited was more of a truck than a car.

“Guys! Come outside and check it out,” my father called.

It was nighttime in Union Township. We burst from the living room and darted toward the front door. My older brother reached the storm door first, flinging it wide as me and my little sister followed close behind. We jumped from the front porch onto the walkway.

There it was. A great beast in a coat of pearl gold, its grille adorned with chrome, paint gleaming in the porch lights, the “Limited” badge glinting like a general’s pin.

We screamed and shouted. There’s no doubt our voices carried into our neighbors’ homes disturbing their late-night TV.

“You like it?” our dad asked with a proud grin. He unlocked the car with the press of a button.

My sister and I scrambled into the backseat while our brother claimed the front, mapping out the controls like a co-pilot.

It smelled of leather and something new. Woodgrain trim framed the center console. The audio system featured a CD player, a favorite of ours.

The new features were captivating, but not as much as the size of the truck and the space it offered. Now, we were able to stretch out and have room in the back.

We begged our dad to take us for a spin. He furrowed his brow, and a frown stole his smile.

“No,” he grumbled. “It’s too late.” Tomorrow, he promised.

The next day, the 4Runner looked even better than the night before. The open trunk was so spacious, we used it as extra seating with cousins and neighborhood friends on birthday outings.

We felt safer, more secure. Our family was growing, and the 4Runner was a space where we would grow together. It marked a new beginning.

And nearly 25 years later, a new truck is parked in my parents’ driveway, a new Toyota 4Runner.

Road Trip!