... she was born on Friday, November 16th, 1984 in (of course) Bowling Green, Kentucky.

This year has been eventful for Lauren. My friend Bruce used all of his substantial skills to fix a set of issues that started with a blown front air conditioning compressor seal and led us down an electromechanical rabbit hole. I also tracked down and communicated with her first owner (I'm the fourth) in Portland, Oregon. Finally, she received a reasonably comfortable (96% plus) NCRS Chapter Top Flight at the Delaware Valley Run For The Ribbons in October—even with some unavoidable last minute issues.

I got up an hour earlier than usual this morning—if remotely possible, I drive Lauren at least a little bit on her birthday. It was in the mid-40s as I pulled the glistening car out of the garage—I had put less than 50 miles on Lauren since that judging last month. It rained last night, and colorful leaves have been falling in the Philadelphia area, so the 1985 on the pavement in the half-light looked like some eighties car brochure cliche.

I drove for only half an hour or so, stopping mid-way for that most eighties of breakfast road food—an Egg McMuffin. The L98 loves these fall temperatures, so I could tell Lauren was raring to go as we headed back home along Montgomery Avenue, the main drag for locals on the Main Line.

With that business taken care of, off to work ...