elgeeko’s blog

This is the last of three in the series about Shibrowner, the much adored (and worn) car throughout my high school years.

Until a few months after high school, I smoked cigarettes. As smokers know, smokers congregate in groups; your friends, lovers, and hangouts all become smoke friendly. What I truly miss about smoking is the perfect excuse for a little break, a few moments to myself or to converse with friends. Cigarettes were a social utility that connected strangers and friends alike.

In what would become a beloved tradition for myself and three friends, we escaped the bustle of suburban life to a quiet mountainside with a view of the valley below. Shibrowner’s windows rolled down, and the four of us climbed to sit over its doors, feet resting inside the car, elbows resting on its roof. Cigarettes flare up as we watch the sunset over the valley, our attention frequently turning to one of the heads bobbing above the roof. Our regular participants included two Americans, one German, one Swede, and one Norwegian, though occasional guests were invited to join.

To the best of my recollection, there were some rough guidelines about Top of the Car Conversations. They became an honest, open, and a unique way to exchange thoughts and ideas. We felt as friends, and equals, and will remember these moments as some of the best in high school.