For all of you Toyota Land Cruiser fans out there, and relationship fans, too.
This was originally going to be a post that Chirs wouldn’t make…to showcase his Warn 8000 Series, Model 5721, winch.
It still is a post about that….and, about the intersection of a scientist, tech writer and car guy with a psychotherapist gal.
Chris loves his 1973 Toyota Land Cruiser. How much? This is an example: When we were first dating we spent a lot of time at my condo, because he had a roommate. At one point, his roommate texted him, “Dude, are you on vacation?” because he was at work, at the gym, at yoga, or at the condo.
Enter the first week in our early dating when he went radio silence.
Something’s up. We can’t be on the same page. How could I have mis-read this to this degree? These were the thoughts going through my head.
Here’s what he was thinking, and actually communicated very clearly: I ordered leaf springs for the Land Cruiser, so I’m going to use some of my vacation time to install them next week.
Exit the fact that he had used three of those four vacation weeks to go on a fabulous road trip together before this week. Enter, radio silence.
I decided to lay low. Maybe I had ideas about our relationship that weren’t in alignment with his. Read: Maybe he was dumping me after what looked like a viable future together.
Lady, I said to myself, you’ve got family and friends, a career, you’re still literally dancing and staying creative. You’ve got this. Breathe.
At the end of a week, an exhilarated boyfriend emerged from his garage. He enjoyed the challenge of replacing the leaf springs so much. He couldn’t wait to see me, and thankfully, didn’t want to tell me too much about it, as my least inclined abilities – and interests – are those that require mechanical thinking.
Fast forward to Covid. He’s been a great person to joke with and laugh with and talk with….and to go our separate ways. Like when he wants to go to the garage to rebuild a Warn 8000 winch, and I want to head to my computer to speak to the relational aspect of his endeavors.
There’s never been a time that’s more important to lean in to our connections, and also to honor what helps each person get through this pandemic.
That would usually be my ending sentence to a blog post. Yet here’s something to consider: The winch (which sits at the front of the vehicle in case of necessary support or emergencies) can lift 8,000 pounds. The beautiful and boxy shaped Toyota 1973 Land Cruiser weights about 5,000 pounds.
So, one smallish part of a giant machine can lift more than its weight, with some room to spare. Where am I going with this: Never Underestimate Your Strength!