ATLANTA, Ga. - There's something special about driving a Jeep. I've wanted one all my life, but I kept getting pulled into purchasing other vehicles (as if skirting around my dream of owning a Jeep). Well, less than a year ago, I bit the bullet and bought a 2006 Jeep Liberty, almost new, had just a hair over 11,000 miles on it.
Man-oh-man!
Every time I get into my little white Liberty, I feel like I'm on vacation. When, in reality, I'm just driving from my job to the house, or to the cleaners or grocery store. But the power I feel when I hit the accelerator and pass the too-slow-driver in front of me, or when I zip around a tight corner, I feel like I'm in the mountains somewhere. The git-up and go of a Jeep is indescribable. And, in my Liberty, I love bouncing up and down with the bumps in the road. It's just plain fun!
And Jeeps are unforgiving of clutter. Just seems to fit. Not a slob, but there's something about downing a bottle of water and tossing it over my shoulder into the backseat. That little toss brings on a sense of liberation, freedom, in my Jeep; one I didn’t feel when I dirtied my little red Chevy.
There are a few theories on where the name Jeep originated. One is that it came from the Popeye's cartoon character (back in the 30's) named "Eugene the Jeep." Eugene was a little fellow out of this world who could go anywhere, do anything. He could even walk on ceilings and go through walls. Eugene the Jeep appeared on Popeye a few years before the military started testing what would be its primary utility vehicle. What do you know, the military named their new workhorse "Jeep." Yeah!
I'm in heaven now because I recently discovered JeepForum.com, a chat board for Jeep owners, and AllThingsJeep.com, a website for Jeep enthusiasts. (See, I'm not alone!) There's also JP Freek Magazine, a free, bi-monthly digital publication celebrating the adventure and lifestyles of fellow Jeep owners. Cool!
There are even Jeep shows for people like me. There's the upcoming 12th Annual All Breeds Jeep Show in York, Pennsylvania. It's estimated to include close to 500 Jeeps, lots of vendors and miscellaneous events over a two-day period. The show is July 21-22, 2007.
The 7th Annual Great American Jeep Rally is coming up in September of this year in Somers, Connecticut. Visit JeepRally.org for more information on this one.
Don't get me wrong, I've never been a big "car" person. You know, how some people get all wrapped up in their vehicles? I mean, when I lived in Los Angeles, I drove a broke-down, almost-navy blue Dodge Colt because it was cheap and ran like a charm. When I moved to Atlanta, I bought what had to be a fourth- or fifth-generation Nissan. In Long Island, New York, I can't even remember the type of car it was, but it was baby blue, and always on the side of the road needing this or that repair. I owned a cute little Chevy somewhere in between. And, a few years back, I even got close to a Jeep. I bought a Suzuki Sidekick.
But that was infatuation; my Jeep Liberty is love.
Now that I have my Jeep. I'm set. I will do "the Clark Howard" and drive it 'til the wheels fall off. I love my Jeep Liberty! "Zola" will be part of the family for a long, long time.
Oops, almost time to get off work… where are my keys? Where are my keys?! Found 'em. Time to drrrriiiivvveeee my baby home!
