The Clean

So listen, not to speak too much on anyone's behalf, but I'm fairly certain when I say that all of us that have this illness realize the irrationality in the obsession. But it doesn't matter. We're compelled in spite of that to clean anyway and get as close to an "as new" reset as possible.
Maybe we're striving for a level of perfection we wish we had. Maybe it goes back a long way as we literally and figuratively polish away the past. I'm sure there's a diagnosis. But it also doesn't matter.
For me, I know it started early. At about 6 y/o I remember washing and applying paste wax (because I'd seen dad do it) to the near entirety of his Austin Healey. Including the tires. Because why not? When you're 6 everything must need polished, right?
Years later on I would find myself cleaning my own vehicle as a means to peace in a storm. I would even clean other people's cars I worried didn't have the clarity to do it themselves. It felt like a good service. The least I could do.
But now that the storms are quiet and life has seen fit to grant me as the caretaker of a lifelong dream, I find it only fitting to give her the clean I perceive she needs. And then the protection for the journey I know we'll take.
Because after all, life will throw some stones at you. Shields up.



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Yes those are paint meter readings. It's important to verify that no paintwork was done but in these cars it's largely academic because they are hand sprayed. And the numbers as you see vary wildly on the same panel and on every panel. In truth for these cars it's almost as if the wild inconsistency verifies it's original counter to conventional wisdom. Since this has been discussed and debated extensively I thought it would be fun to demonstrate on a one owner no hit car.

 

Thanks for the compliment and the thoughtful reply. It's truly interesting to me as well. I'm also not nearly as compulsive about windows or books. But these cars. Well. There's just something about them. When they are right somehow everything is better. Go figure. Safe travels all.

 

Not surprisingly, I've always envied you guys for having the knowledge and spending the time to get the mechanical details right that I subcontract. I have enough mechanical knowledge to be dangerous but I am far from trusting myself to do anything significant. Even worse, this leaves a nagging feeling that maybe things weren't done that I can't see and have no way of checking. Trust becomes a major deal. At least anybody can see a really good detail job.
On the flip side, as soon as the car is fully detailed I can't wait to drive it. And do it all over again.
So interesting how we all look at these machines.