I’m not a bumper sticker kind of girl. And it’s actually kind of troubling. I know. Bumper Stickers. Silly, really. Stop looking into things so deeply, you say? Yeah, bad habit. It’s okay, I’m used to it. And besides, it doesn’t always turn out so bad.
Yesterday I drove Jamis down a suburban, tree-lined street on the way home from school. Runners on either side of us, bicycles whizzing by. A grey Honda Odyssey was ahead of us with 26.2 wrapped in an oval and stuck to the rear. It was the only sticker on the body of the vehicle. No “my kid’s on the honor roll” stuff, no alma maters gleaning the back windshield, no political emblems from the brand-genius Obama campaign. Just 26.2.
Between the crossing guard and the stop sign I thought that maybe I, too, should slap a 26.2 to my ass and give my own Odyssey a little something extra to make it shine. After all, I’ve run a marathon. I cried like a baby at the finish line, actually. True focus, training and determination had delivered me somewhere I’d never before been, and it was my first real taste of personal pride.
I tried to envision the sticker on my van. I wondered if my pride would sit like boastfulness with the wrong people. I wondered if it was the message for me. I mean, if I was actually entertaining the thought of a sticker, there were surely thousands to choose from. Millions? Was this the one? My main message? Or, at least, important enough for it to stand alone on my car? I know for certain I will never become a person whose back-end is cluttered with all variety of band logos, inspirational sayings and humorous quotes. So, how on earth would I ever choose just one?
Here’s the point where I take a bumper sticker way too seriously. You see, I really like the idea of a message. Of sending a message. Of showing conviction. The people I admire the most are those with strong convictions. Things that people know to be absolutely true and believe in completely. Do I have no truths? Nothing I would stick by day after day, nothing that represents me? Are there no words I would like to encourage others to see, read and ponder?
In making decisions–commitments, really–I’m so often worried about permanence. And then my worry debilitates me and nothing at all gets done. From wall colors to framed pictures. Even, and most infuriating, to simple words on a thank-you note. There is so much perfectionism rambling around in my body that I’m crippled when it comes to execution. Some things are easier: temporary things; things that can be deleted; things that don’t require me to dive inside myself for long periods of time and come out with a meaningful message.
What my truths are, I don’t know. The little mantras in my mind almost go unnoticed, but they get me through a rocky patch, like the last few miles of a long run. If I paid as much attention to them in my day-to-day as I did on the race course, I think it’d be a whole lot easier to pick a bumper sticker. If I let go of the idea of permanence, change would be more available in my mind. After all, nothing really is permanent. And when I make a decision and paint the wall red, I’m always much happier. Progress was made. Life has gone on.
If I do ever smack a sticker on my van, I’ll be sure to let you know. Depending on the day, and my mood, it could be as simple as “26.2″ or as invigorating as “Carpe Diem.” Perhaps I ought to go with car magnets instead. That’d probably give me the flexibility I need for now. I wouldn’t have to worry about defacing my car, or worse, myself. At least not permanently.
An itty, bitty sampling of a super-quick search provides you with a dose of Thursday entertainment:
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Love this. I do happen to know my bumper sticker. I saw it once when driving through Topanga Canyon in Los Angeles:
“What if the Hokey-Pokey really is what it’s all about?”
I am like you, I would not be able to clutter my car’s bumper with loads of stickers. I’d have to choose one. This process would take years and years of looking without success. But, if I’m to be honest, after a couple days of searching I’d probably forget about it and move on. Is there a bumper sticker for that?
.-= Amber´s last blog ..A Birthday Letter for Two =-.
I am so like you . I have a million different things I would like to say, but I hate bumper stickers permanence. I often think of great ones on my way to work, when I am dealing with assholes who, dont use their turn signals, drive 55 in the fast lane, and expect to be let in after they could see a mile back that the lane up ahead is freakin closed.
I love the Ass is an Ass one.
Now come on. This is NOT fair. You know if I had that RED SHOE STICKER I’d have to put it on my bumper. (Not necessarily the car, that is.)
:)
Poisson d’Avril.
.-= BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..Dear ELLE Magazine in Paris =-.
I thought of BLW immediately when seeing that red shoe bumper sticker!
.-= Kristen @ Motherese´s last blog ..Tour de Trust =-.
I am so with you. Magnets. Yes.
And I love the bumper stickers. “I’m not really a bumper sticker kind of person.” ;)
.-= Heather of the EO´s last blog ..Quiet =-.
Definitely go with the magnets and switch them out. Committing to a bumper sticker is like trying to use the same purse every day for the next 5 years. I can’t decide on a bumper sticker any more than I could decide on a tattoo.
.-= Erica@PinesLakeRedhead´s last blog ..It’s That Time Again =-.
I’m not a bumper sticker person, but certainly one of mantras, of deep wisdom that I repeat again and again and again. And I wonder if your deep knowing, your mantra, is even within your very post, Sarah:
…”showing conviction….absolutely true… encourage others…”
Seems to me you do this – consistently – in oh-so-sticky, visible, and “permanent” ways.
.-= Ronna´s last blog ..Lent Ends: A Wild Beauty =-.
Speaking of Obama, my neighbor makes his own bumper stickers, puts them in a plastic sleeve, and slaps them up on his rear window. The one he made after the election said something like, “I’ll keep my gun, babies, and taxes. You can keep The Change.” Can’t wait to see what he comes up with for health care. (And maybe I need to get that Quiet Neighbor/Big Freezer sticker to give him pause for a moment … )
.-= Stacia´s last blog ..Fixing What’s Broken =-.
I live in a town in which many people seem to wear their heart – or at least their convictions – on their bumpers, but usually the messages I see drive me to new depths of road rage.
My own bumper is sticker-free. I did have a car magnet during the ’08 election, but it kept falling off in my garage and it’s now doing yeoman’s work on my fridge.
Maybe I just wasn’t meant to sum myself up in a few words.
.-= Kristen @ Motherese´s last blog ..Tour de Trust =-.
I’m with Kristen re: new depths of road rage – in my neck of the woods, the bumper stickers often reflect very polarizing lenses.
Largely for that reason, I’m hesitant to brand my car with statements that might send others reeling!
That said, I think those 26.2 stickers are way cool. A subtle statement deserving of pride and admiration!
But “My Boxer Is Smarter Than Your Honors Student?” (Yes, really. Saw it; wrote about it.) Not so much.
.-= Leslie´s last blog ..House call =-.
Yeah, I’m with you Sarah – not really a bumper sticker person. I worry about permanence, but I also worry about people not liking me – making comments about my driving based on assumptions – road rage – etc. I don’t necessarily like to brand myself, I prefer to fly under the radar.
We do have a window cling in the back window of our older car. It’s a Minnesota Twins sticker. We’re fans.
I do enjoy reading other people’s bumper stickers. There was one last week for the humane society that read: “Who rescued who?” Sweet. And I like the “Life is good” series. Oh, and “Wag More. Bark Less.”
.-= Eva´s last blog ..Adaptation: Cultivating plants and appreciation =-.
I live in the south, home of vanity plates and bumper stickers. However, I refuse to devalue my car so that other people can know more about me. I do have my blog as a decal in the window. Hello, vanity!
However, I do love making up bumper sticker slogans. My all-time favorite is, “Beer makes me common.” Runner up is, “If you think I’m evil, you should meet my friends.”
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..The Yellow Park =-.
I’ve driven THOSE kinds of cars where nearly every surface is covered with some progressive message. But after personal threats I stopped. Well, after personal threats and baby twins. The personal threats got a lot worse after 9/11. It was as though people felt I was somehow part of the problem because my car was screaming ‘freedom of choice, freedom of thought, freedom of religion”. I ignored that, but once I had my kids I decided to clean up my car and register voters instead!
Last year in the election my Dad put stickers on my Mom’s car without asking her. Now, my parents don’t fight. But she told him very coolly that he had not asked her first. He got it and they were removed in short order. She is quietly powerful.
I love your post! Life can’t be reduced into sound bytes anyway.
.-= BlogInSong´s last blog ..Bells Gonna Ring =-.
They make car magnets? That’s brilliant :)
I put bumper stickers on my first car… but they were from my friends bands and that sort of thing. Nothing political or edgy.
.-= Corinne´s last blog ..What’s in the bag?? =-.
Yes, car magnets. This is the one on the back of my old car which isn’t funny, but something that is pretty central in our house:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhubarbpie/2897170201/
.-= Tepary´s last blog ..Knit Power and Hello, Cupcake Book Giveaway =-.
“Do I have no truths? Nothing I would stick by day after day, nothing that represents me?”
Maybe off-topic, but that’s exactly how I feel about getting a tattoo. I have nothing against them and I admire those that have then – but I just can’t decide what I would want and where I’d want it.
My hubby has no fear – he put a bumper sticker on our truck that says, “Don’t blame me. I didn’t vote for this Obamanation”. I cringe every time I read it!
In my opinion, bumber stickers are a little like tattoos for cars. I could never commit to a bumber sticker or a tattoo because both permanently brand you. I am not opposed to either, mind you, I am just too noncommittal and indecisive to ever make a selection that truly represents me or my personality. Reading bumber stickers on long road trips can really help the time fly, so I am glad that there are folks who are willing to stick them on. Neat post :)
.-= Brandie´s last blog ..Rule #3: Bottoms Up! =-.
I am in disbelief with the choices people make as far as what to stick on their car for all to see. Most of the walls of my house are bare. My master bath has been in “planning/designing mode” for 2 years. I have pattern free bedding. Because… I cannot commit. I’m too worried about making a decision I regret. For years I wanted to get a tattoo but wavered back and forth month to month and knew I’d regret my decision. I still kind of want one, but know I still will never decide on a brand for myself. (And I just went back and read that Cathy said something similar!)
But some bumper stickers… the ones that so simply and clearly state something about themselves or a passion of theirs, I can’t help but smile at. And 26.2 would be one of them. Pride. A goal achieved. Look at me, I’m frickin awesome for running a marathon… whatever it is… I like it!
I’d like to see a sticker that says, “My child is just plain old average.”
.-= becca´s last blog ..Like Yesterday =-.
Car magnets! The perfect solution.
.-= Christine LaRocque´s last blog ..Expectations =-.
My minivan rocks a “Health Care for All” sticker, one from our local food co-op (a bright purple eggplant), and one from the paddlesport shop where my hubby is a manager. (But 2 of the 3 are on the glass – easier to peel off than on the bumper.)
My hubby? He plasters stickers all over the rocket box that goes on top of the Subaru when we take trips. His favorites? “Lawns are for Losers” and “I Got Lei’ed in Hawaii”. :)
Want a sticker? Get one. You can always bust out a razor blade and scrape it off later. :)
(this is reminding me of your tattoo post from the other day. :) Hubby and I have a little ink ourselves. I don’t think I had a chance to chime in on that one yet…)
.-= Boy Crazy (@claritychaos)´s last blog ..(spring)break =-.
Sarah, when I was a kid I was always enthralled with bumper stickers. I thought they were so smart and I loved reading them and, of course, I thought I’d have TONS when I grew up. Guess what? I’ve never had any. I guess I’ve just driven behind too many cars that were plastered with hateful messages (especially, it appears, political messages) that have made me wonder, “why do these people want me to hate them when I’m benignly driving behind them down the road?”
So none for me. Except I guess I could put one on for Jazzercise. No one could have a problem with that. Could they?
.-= Linda at Bar Mitzvahzilla´s last blog ..Miss Greasy Head =-.
I have a thing about using bumper stickers too. I love reading them, and my cars are certainly trashed enough already, but I think I object (in myself) to how it appears too much like wearing my heart on my sleeve to a bunch of strangers. I do have an eagle scout one, but that’s it. My kids always want me to put funny or political ones and I just can’t do it. Of course, then I drive my daughter’s car and she’s got a few that tell it like it is. I try not to think that everyone on the road assumes I put them there…
.-= Maureen@IslandRoar´s last blog ..Maureen D. =-.
We are not bumper sticker people, as in, we will never put them on our car. I suspect, as it’s my husband that cares, it’s more about vehicular vanity than messaging. My rage gets stoked by vanity plates, particularly inside joke or poorly executed sayings. Like something out of Seinfeld I have to tailgate and fume, desperately trying to make sense of: WRV3QT
Grrr.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..In another’s eyes =-.
I AM a bumper sticker kinda gal…although I’m not real big on the explicit-message types. Let me explain: I’ve got hot pink silhouettes of a palm tree & a sun, the Hawaiian islands, and 4 pairs of flip-flops, from biggest to smallest. I also have a Dave Matthews Band sticker. So my stickers don’t actually SAY anything, but they really do. I’m pretty big on having them on my car b/c I like to make my car stand out a bit. I mean, really, I drive a Hyundai hatchback…it doesn’t exactly scream “personality.” As far as your fear of permanence…really, girl, really? Yeah, you can delete a post or your blog any time, but the words you put out there, the truths you write every time, they are sorta permanent. You’ve written them. You’ve shared them. We’ve read them. They exist. And I’ve never taken you for the hesitant type. Here’s the thing with bumper stickers: they can be scraped off any time. You can slap another one right on top of an old one if you change your mind. You can reinvent your car’s ass as many times as you’d like. Get my point? P.S. I think I might have to get me one of those “I’m not perfect but parts of me are fantastic” as my first explicit-message type of bumper sticker.
.-= Liz´s last blog ..Hyperconnected: Somedays I just want to be unplugged =-.