I started wanting it as soon as I realized they were selling new ones, rather than just refurbished old ones. More so when I actually saw them around. And then when Cristin graduated from Whitman, I gave her my RAV 4 and bought — it took about a year, because of the waiting list — a new 2005 Mini.

Cristin would say things like “at least your midlife crisis was just a Mini-Cooper, not a Porsche.” Not so bad.

I got it in April of 2005. That wood I refer to got darker and darker into 2006 — the Mini made it better, me and my car, but it didn’t solve anything — but finally started clearing up in 2007, thanks to reading, Carl Jung, meditation, and some related phenomena.

The car and I parted company very happily, four years later, when I gave it to Megan as she started adult life down in Palo Alto with a fresh new degree and a fresh new job. I drove it down there with her, for two perfect days.

When I got the new Audi TT to replace it, Cristin came home that day and said, “Dad, you turned in your hippy car for a preppy car.” Gulp. But then yesterday I took the Audi over Fox Hollow after dinner, I’m starting to really like it. And I love having left the Mini at a good place.