New Car Shower

I’m so proud of my friend Eric. After nine bleak, car-less years in Manhattan, he’s finally welcomed a new bundle of joy into his life: a 2007 Toyota Matrix. What better excuse could there be to throw a new car shower? We rounded up some pals, cracked the champagne, and gathered at my place to make a fuss over the new arrival. Of course, the main purpose of the new car shower, like its corollaries in the marital and reproductive sectors, is to get stuff. While none of us exactly had the cash to spring for a set of lambo doors, we did manage to pony up a pretty respectable haul: key-fobs, tire foam, Zip Wax car wash, a Bluetooth earpiece, a collapsible Velcro trash bag for long trips, and a stash of gag gifts including a surfboard air freshener, a Jesus fish, and flashing LED valve-stem caps. These are but baby steps on the road to aftermarket bliss: the Matrix is bone-stock, with 250 test-drive miles on its spotless 1.8, and is just begging for that custom touch. But all in all, I think Eric is off to an enthusiastic start. We of course helped him set up a new ride page, where you can view photos from the celebration and weigh in on what he should do with his new ride. Congratulations, Eric!