Step One

Do you remember your first car? Mine was a 198-something Nissan Sentra that I spray-painted black with yellow letters on the side spelling "Shelley"—which was her name. She was originally my mom's car, but I somehow commandeered her and then had her commandeered away from me by all my high school buddies. Soon, I left the keys in the car so anyone could take her out whenever they needed her.

My son, however, better not do the same with the car we just bought for him. It's gorgeous: a cherry red 2001 Dodge Intrepid with an immaculate interior: his wedding present. And he's gonna need it.

It was fun, car shopping. I was a bit intimated by the prospect of finding something that was halfway decent at the amount we were willing to pay, but it turned out to be a fun day of connection for Twon and I ... with a fabulous result. We got a much better deal than I believed possible and, even better, a wonderful memory of one of our last days together.

Stay tuned for Friday's note when my little boy will be taking a much bigger step than getting his first car...