My longest crush

 There was a boy named Ian a couple of years ahead of me at Hackley high school in Tarrytown, N.Y. Ian's father's investment advisor told him to go with a collector car, so he bought a white 1967 Austin Healey 3000 and let his son drive it occasionally. 35 years ago, heading to a track meet in that roadster, feeling every other driver on the road's eyes upon it, wind in hair, sonorous exhaust note resounding, I knew I had met an ultimate dream car.

I soon had a 1967 car of my own -- my parent's old 1967 Volvo. And I would enjoy many other classic cars of all stripes, even as I admired big Healeys at car shows over the years. Test drove a couple in various conditions. Kept a period photo of a 3000 Mark 3 in Healey Blue on my wall all that time. 

In April  2020, this lovely example presented from an estate in Hagerstown, Md., pretty close to home. 2020 was a strange year, but one with some opportunities amid the mayhem. I decided Ian's father's advisor's advice is as good now as ever and withdrew some retirement funds. I'm happy to report this car sounds and drives exactly as its looks promise.