Every kid should have fun wacky childhood memories. One of mine is remembering mom’s first car.

Quoting my little sister: “My mom and her ride in the mid 70’s. We used to ride in parades in Montreal and give out free A&W root beer coupons. My Grandma refused to ride in that car. Poor car died a tragic death in a train derailment on its way to Alberta when we moved out west in 1976.”

She was a single mom with two little kids doing her best, making ends meet.

Mom entered a ballot at the local pharmacy and won a Skidoo, resourceful she quickly sold the snowmobile and used the proceeds from the sale to buy herself a little car. The Volkswagen Beetle came home colored bright orange and shortly after our little VW Bug was transformed and decorated as a marketing mobile.

I don’t know any six and/or eight-year-old who would not think this to be a hoot, driving around with images of Rooty the mascot on the hood and the slogan “Follow the Great Root Bear to A&W” advertised on the cars side?

Weekly we would cruise to the local A&W drive-in to have a burger and a root beer. Weekends we’d dash out of the big city to explore the countryside. Everywhere we went, people on the street would point at the car–we thought we were famous!

I’m positive mom did this for us and the fact that it was a great way to supplement her car expenses. Yes, she actually got paid a monthly allowance for that ride including regular checkups and oil changes, all covered in her contract. You wouldn’t want a bear breakdown now would you?

And mom’s sense of style, her orange bikini is a no happy coincidence I’m sure.

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and all zesty mom’s out there!

Ginette