Growing up, Christmas was hands-down the most exciting day of the year. Full stop. There was no room for debate. Birthdays were close, but Christmas morning, when the front yard was blanked in snow and everyone was off from school, was the best. Wait a second. It’s almost September. Why am I talking about December when we’re months away from the holidays? Stick with me here.
I’m older now and yes, I still love Christmas. But nowadays, I feel like that joy is spread throughout the year and oftentimes it’s even more exciting. As cliche as it may sound, that’s how I feel when I get to work on my car.
You know how it goes. You’ve been busy. The “to-do” lists have been long. That thing called life has taken precedence over your project. The project is waiting, patiently, in the corner of the garage. Maybe you have a few boxes stacked on top of it (just for a minute, you say), or maybe it’s up on jackstands. Maybe it hasn’t moved in awhile—or maybe it has.
Parts and pieces sit in bubble-wrap on metal shelves, awaiting the day that you get to unwrap them and bolt them on. You’ve searched the H.A.M.B., planning and plotting your next moves. The tools are laid out. All that’s missing is you.
It’s the night before the big weekend. People know not to bother you. You have your shop clothes at the ready, and you’re thinking about what part of the job you’ll tackle first. The easiest part? The hardest? What will you listen to? What will you have for lunch? The day is yours—all yours, for you and your project.
Before you go to sleep, you imagine how the day will go. This part can be difficult, because you’ve had days like this before. You’re well aware that they don’t always go as planned. A missing piece, a long-lost tool, actually believing two of the worst words in hot rodding (“bolt on”)—calamity has no limits. You’ve felt the pain before, and that makes the triumph all-the-sweeter. It’s your day. You can make it count.
As I write this, I’m preparing for a long weekend in the garage. While talking to a co-worker, he asked “How many trips to the hardware store do you think it’s going to take?” Some real words from a man who has been there. (My answer was five.)
So as we wind down the work week, I’ll ask you this: how do you feel when you have a day all to yourself to work on your project? I’d love to hear.
—Joey Ukrop
Opening photo from The Garage Journal
