Car Guy was giddy to attend Meguiar’s Detailing 101 class from 8am-3pm on a Saturday in nearby Irvine. He’s into technical details and that translates into many facets of his interests. I like seeing him happy and excited about his passions. He extends the same to my “hobbies”.

Cars have been his childhood passion. He’s been generous with his talents towards neighbors and others who’ve had questions about their cars. His expertise extends beyond cars. Anything that has a motor, an engine, mechanical parts or circuitry.

Once my friend Jen left her car at our place and we drove to the retreat in my car. While we were away, CG washed her car. That’s the kind of guy he is.

The Meguiar’s Saturday class was free. They served coffee, donuts, lunch, etc. They made it easy for people to join. Naturally, there is a marketing element but that seems only fair.

CG came home with many different polisher sponges and concoctions. Along with the accessories was knowledge he had gained about techniques, solutions for removing contaminants, defects and sealants. I remembered how he always got into the nooks and crannies of the Jaguar’s metal grill so it sparkled. Not a trace of wax or residue remained.

Whenever I’ve dealt with a stubborn substance stuck onto cookware, CG magically appears with a steel wool or solution to magically remove it. I just want to boil the heck out of it with baking soda and water or use Bartender’s Keeper. That latter product was introduced to me by my mother-in-law.

Consistent car maintenance is an extension of CG’s personality. He’s responsible, meticulous about detail, proactive about protecting assets, and concerned about the safety of drivers/passengers.

It is laughable that he married someone like me. I remember, before we were married, giving CG a ride in my MR2. The interior was black and grey cloth upholstery. It was covered with dog hair from my oversized basset hound, Clyde. CG filled the entire passenger side because he’s tall. Every point of his body came into contact with fur. Despite first fur-filled impressions, he still married me. My car has traces of spilled snacks–a fallen, hidden french fry. When I give a passenger a ride, I’m always having to shift things from the passenger seat to the trunk to make room. I throw things in the backseat like a catch-all—a sweater, a shopping bag, etc. The cup holders contain water bottles with varying levels of water consumption.

We accept each other unconditionally. Some of our best conversations and moments have happened in a car.

I’m amazed at how a car will zoom by and CG will recognize some unique aspect about it, including the car being posted for sale. He would make an amazing witness. He registers details faster than the time it would take anyone to pull out their camera phone to record a situation. He reminds me of Marissa Tomei’s character Mona Lisa Vito in the movie “My Cousin Vinny”. That scene where she testifies as an expert witness and delivers these lines —