Part IV — Pre-Dinner Cocktails

[The saga of sorts continues, part i, part ii, part iii. Follow along in order but not necessarily.]

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With our drinks ordered, Dad fell into a quick funk which was not at all a usual state for him. Dad did not possess an into a funk kind of personality. If he did, he kept it from us all these years. Beverli Lee, the object of dad’s unsubtle ridicule, took it more than in stride. She buoyed up into chipper mode, relentlessly carrying the conversation, talking about anything other than Teslas. Continue reading

Critical Thinking: 6 Degrees Of Gene Hackman

“Today’s question, M.”

“I’m all ears.”

“How do get from Gene Hackman to hating on John Wayne?”

“Uhhh… They’re both old act—”

“The correct answer is via Wes Anderson, of course.”

“Huh. Would not have guessed that in a—”

“I know, right. So I was watching The Royal Tenenbaums a couple nights ago.”

“Why?”

“Well, one, Gene Hackman was my dad’s favourite modern actor.” Continue reading

Part III, Tesla Talk, With Just A Glimpse Of Musk

[Car proud, car envy. But so much more! New to these serial pages? Catch up, part I & part II].

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“But she’s so self-righteous about it!” Avrum claims, and gets all incensed at my eye-roll. Yes, eye-roll, “I am not! That’s bullshit!”

Too easy.

Not to generalize but, in my experience, those who drive Teslas tend to portray themselves as, how to put this kindly, planetary saviours? They could be racing down the road, tossing fast food wrappers out the window as they go, rolling over endangered turtles and knocking spotted owls from the air and still claim the mantel of climate warrior. My Other Car Is A… Are you f’n kidding me? What other car?! Continue reading