HAPPENINGS She Says Friday, Jan. 9 Believe it or not, women get attached to their cars. But for different reasons than men. ALLISON KAPLAN Special to The Jewish News I n the ephemeral life span of every automobile, there eventu- ally comes a point when a dri- ver's focus shifts from trans- portation to the inevitable breakdown. Not inflicting a breakdown, mind you, but prepping for the trauma. I recall with great fondness the first days following the purchase of my Acura Integra. Okay, fine, the car had already weathered six years and 80,000 miles when I bought it. But I was in col- lege, for gosh- sakes, and I really needed a car with a sunroof I kept reminding myself how - cool it was to have a car with a sunroof— even if that car was stranded on an auto shop lift, its transmission a total loss — three weeks after I bought it. Other than that minor, minor setback early on, the Integra was a great ride. Fast. Sporty. Ever cool. Those factors — some might call them superficial, I chose to categorize them as intrinsi- cally pleasing — can blind you to the aging process. Take the trunk, for example. Mine had a fingerprint of rust just beside the keyhole that ever so surely spread both east and west right before my very eyes. I ignored it at first, since the car still looked great from either side. But then a spot of rust popped up on the passenger door. And from there, all the aesthetics that dazzled me in the first place began to fail, one by one. A speaker blew. The tape player ate cassettes. The temperature Allison Kaplan is a frequent Scene contributor. 1/9 1998 72 cost the better part of a starting salary — or more. But I worked, I saved, and just as the Integra driver's seat came unbolted and I practically lurched through the windshield, I bought a new car. With a sunroof, to boot. Every time I use my fancy remote to unlock the doors from 10 feet away, I marvel that this object too big to stick in a back pocket really belongs to me. Sure, the Integra was mine, but only with my et •""`ota y mt., s40 mom's name on the Mkt title since I was a lowly r college student with- out any assets. To my amazement, the woman at the bank and the man at the dealership say I now have assets. When did that happen? Must have been around the same time I real- ized Jeeps are impractical in the city — with their bumpy ride, terrible mileage and easy-to-rip soft tops. My, I'm aging quickly. So it's not the convertible I dreamt about, but it is the brand new car I never imag- ined I could buy. My name is on that title — and I did all the leg work to get it there. (Checking with my dad, from time to time, to make an infuriating "I told sure I was doing every- you so," and for that I thing right.) am forever grateful. But My dad says no words were needed for my new car me to know my next car was not gives me going to be the Jeep I always something promised myself I would someday called equity, which will be important buy. some day when I buy a house. Yes, I talked a lot about driving a Gulp. sporty Jeep Wrangler — mainly I think a car is enough of an because I figured I'd never have investment for this decade. And by enough money to buy a new car any- the time I pay it off, I figure I'll way. I wondered how I would ever need to move back in with Mom and pull together enough resources to buy Dad for a year to recover — both a new car. from the financial strain, and the Even now, as I cruise around in my shock. hip-yet-practical new Civic, I'm amazed that I really did it. New cars lever jammed, leaving me to choose between always having heat, or always having air. Then one day the glove compart- ment fell off. Just like that. And the sunroof — my beloved sunroof — started leaking ... quite steadily, depending on the direction of the rain. My par- **mow% . . . ents never did utter • • • " • ... m The future of American Judaism, young adult Humanists luncheon with Rabbi Sherwin Wine. 12-1 p.m. At the Birmingham Temple. Cost: $5. (248) 477-1410. Sunday, Jan. U Brunch, Second Sunday Schrnoozers and Jewish Professional Singles. 11:30 a.m. Meet at Zanzibar Restaurant, Ann Arbor. Call Phyllis Perry, (313) 973-8699. 'Tuesday, Jan. 13 Recruitment meeting for the National Young Leadership Cabinet in Washington. 7 p.m. At the Max M. Fisher Building, 6735 Telegraph Road. Call Tanya Mawr-Posner, (248) 203-1456. 2 . Wednesday, Jan. 14 ta• Coffee at Little Daddy's, with Jewish Professional Singles. 7 p.m. Call David, (248) 398-9370. Friday, Jan. 16 Singles Shabbat service. 8 p.m. At the Birmingham Temple. Sponsored by Federation and the Michigan Board of Rabbis, in cooperation with The Jewish News. (248) 642-4260, Ext. 241. Saturday, Jan. 17 Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle and dinner, Jewish Professional Singles. 5:30 p.m., meet at the Royal Oak Brewery. Cost: $12, plus dinner. RSVP to David, (248) 398-9370. Tuesday, Jan. 20 Hate on the Internet, with Don [. Cohen, ADL. 7 p.m. Sponsored by YAD, Federation's Young Adult Division. At the Big Surf Cyber Cafe in Birmingham. (248) 203- 1458. W'ednesday, Jan. 21 Shabbat unplugged: the philosophy of Shabbat. 7:30 p.m. Ariana Gallery, 119 S. Main St., Royal Oak. Rabbis Arnie Sleutelberg, Steven Weil and Aaron Bergman will speak. For reservations, call Jodi Berger, (248) 203-1486.