ObviousLiberal

I couldn't convince myself to buy a genuine electric vehicle. Living in Arkansas, I noticed too many drawbacks that I preferred to avoid. Adding the task of plugging in the vehicle daily isn't something I want to include in my routine. I mean, I can barely remember to plug in my phone at night! Going to a nearby charging station and waiting around 50 minutes for the vehicle to charge doesn’t interest me either. In my retirement, I’ve become accustomed to enjoying life’s comforts and conveniences—like not waiting for my car to juice up while I contemplate the meaning of life. So, I decided to go with a non-plug-in hybrid SUV. After months of researching and comparing different brands, I knew I wanted a fast SUV equipped with advanced technology and safety features. It also had to be comfortable and visually attractive—after all, I still need to impress the squirrels in my neighborhood. The story behind my decision: I visited all the local dealerships and test drove several models like the RAV4, Mazda, and Tucson. Although I was impressed with their performance, each had features I didn’t like, such as color options that screamed “I’m a grandma!” or an information display that looked like it was designed in the ’90s. Then, I came across a Kia Sportage online, which matched my vision perfectly. However, there was no dealership in my city, and the nearest one was 45 minutes away. I planned to check it out, but just as I was leaving, I noticed an online ad for a Ford Escape hybrid. Talk about divine intervention! I quickly visited our local Ford dealer, where they had one available, and I took it for a spin. It turned out to be the SUV I was looking for—zippy and smooth to drive. Although that one was a lower-level package without all the features I wanted, the saleswoman and I configured my ideal model on her computer. It felt like I was customizing my dream house, but with four wheels instead of a backyard. Ordering directly from Ford would take 3-4 months, so she promised to try finding one from another dealer. I went home to wait, which is basically the adult version of waiting for your pizza delivery. Within an hour, she messaged me saying they found one in Missouri and sent me the window tag to check out all the features. I told her I wanted it and anticipated it would take about a week to receive it. Surprisingly, their driver was available the next day, and in a quick 10-hour round trip, went to Missouri and brought it back. I didn’t even have to send a postcard! The following day, I was at the dealership, completed the paperwork and financing, and drove away in my new Ford Escape Platinum. I felt like I had just won the lottery—if the lottery was a shiny new SUV instead of a pile of cash.

This brought tears to my eyes... wait for it. Neil Diamond makes appearance and sings at Opening Night for “A Beautiful Noise”! The song never gets old. Neil Diamond is 82 years old and was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2018.