The Mini Van

Now this one has been a long time coming...

Why is it that people have such an aversion to the "Mini Van"? You know, I guess was one of those guys years ago, when my buddies bought a van, but never with venom. There are some people out there who really HATE the Mini Van!

I haven't mentioned it on Charlie's site, but Beck and I recently bought a Nissan Quest. We traded in her '98 Honda Civic, which had become the car for the parent who didn't have the baby for the day.

A van is just so practical for us... especially if our family grows. It's so easy to load and unload, and the Quest has got to be the most comfortable van ever made. We love it.

So I always wonder: Why is it such a lightning rod for critcism? Are people really so afraid to let go of their "youth" and embrace being a parent?

Maybe I'm way off. I probably don't understand the reasoning at all. What I know is that we just came back from a 3-hour drive (that became a 5-hour drive because of traffic), and it was probably the BEST ride I've had. That's not even mentioning how comfortable Beck and Charlie were.

Listen carefully: "M-I-N-I-V-A-N" does not spell the end of your life.

I've taken a lot of ribbing lately for buying a van, and just let it roll off my back. Now it's time to go on the offensive! I believe I will start a new group of "Soccer Dads" who can appreciate how practical it is to have a van in the driveway.

So for everyone else out there... keep craming your kids into your coupes and your sports cars. Think of the Davis' watching Shrek on the DVD player while we venture on road trips with our family in full comfort (with PLENTY of storage space).

Man, does my stance on this topic make me laugh!!!