About 8 years ago, I had the distinct pleasure of watching someone sit on the fender of my '81 MC SC ... uninvited ... at a local S Elgin cruise night. I slowly made my way back to my car ... and just stood there ... watching him ... wondering how long he was planning to plant his rear end on my car's fender. I didn't wait too long; his buddy suddenly noticed that I was staring at them ... and motioned for him to move. He looked back at me, shrugged and walked away. I didn't say a word, though when I saw him leave in a spotless older (late 1960s early 1970s as I recall) Dodge, I wish I had. You really think I'd have survived unscathed had I sat on HIS car?
Now, sure ... my '81 MC SC (like all of my Monte Carlos) is FAR from perfect ... so a new scratch on an already-scratched fender is NOT a big deal. And, given the shape of the paint on it and my other MCs, I suppose I shouldn't be all that concerned...or complain too much. However, it is the principle. Too many times, people disrespect other peoples' property ... without a thought.
Something similar happened just this past late April. I walked out of work one afternoon, to find a car parked next to mine with a flat tire. As I walked up to my 87 MC LS/CL, I calmly took note that the people changing the tire were very close to my car. Then, as I walked past the front to the driver's door, I noticed a guy put his wallet on the hood of my car ... gliding it over the hood as he reached into it. I opened the door ... watching him as he left the wallet on the hood of my car. The girl with him happened to notice my stare ... and motioned for him to remove his wallet. He did ... and actually apologized, saying, "Oh, sorry, sir." I just nodded...and then shook my head as I got into my car.
Then, the first Monday in May, I came out of my doctor's office ... to find a center cap on my '87 MC LS/CL's honeycomb/checkerboard wheels missing. All 4 were on the car when I went in for my appointment, but only 3 were left when I got back to the car. The one missing ... driver's side front....
Maybe it's just me ... but I treat everyone else's car, whether I like it or not, as if it were my own. I don't lean on them, I don't sit on them, I don't even TOUCH them ... unless told it is OK. Why others don't have a similar mentality ... especially car enthusiasts ... I do not understand. In some ways, I don't even understand non-car enthusiasts not understanding this concept....
