Mistakes: A Sure Sign You’re Still Alive

In 1991 I bought a 1974 Honda Civic for $500. They run forever, you know. Mine was champagne gold and rust colored. Not all the gauges worked, but it was good on gas, got me around town, and if I wanted to risk it, a few exits down I-5. The car served me well and then eight months after I met my husband I was packing for Houston. The car wasn’t making the trip so I put an ad in the newspaper (remember life before Craigslist?) and waited for phone to ring. (It was attached to the wall.)

A guy i...