Bloody Viper

I wasn’t even allowed to drive the Viper.

AI generated description:

The 1994 Dodge Viper is a high-performance sports car known for its powerful engine and iconic design. It features a 400 horsepower V10 engine and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The car is available in various conditions, with some dealers offering rare deals and excellent deals on vehicles with low mileage. As of the latest data, there are 67 1994 Dodge Vipers listed for sale, with prices ranging from $29,173 to over $200,000, depending on condition and mileage. The car is highly regarded for its reliability and performance, with owners rating its quality and reliability above average.

duPont REGISTRY description:

Dodge Viper Specs

• Price: Starting $52,000

• Engine: 8-litre V10

• Transmission: 6-speed manual

• Horsepower: 400 hp

• Torque: 465 lb-ft

• 0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds

• 1/4 mile: 12.6 seconds @ 114 mph

• Top Speed: 165 mph

• Weight: 3,285 lbs

When I was a young mom I left corporate America to raise my son.

Stay-at-home-mom.

I went from designer suits to tee shirts, jeans and sneakers.

Corporate board rooms to a seat at the baby pool.

We lived in the typical 90’s PUD (planned urban development) with quaint names for neighborhoods and coveted real estate on the golf course.

My days were then filled with outings to the Saratoga tot lot, lunch at the club, sometimes golf or tennis and afternoons at the pool.

It was at the pool where the best gossip occurred.

We were a great group of friends who met regularly at the club pool. Wives of interesting men employed by diverse corporations enjoying stay-at-home-momdom.

All of our kids were around the same age.

Usually there were hors d'oeuvres.

Hot dogs for the kids.

Sometimes there were cocktails at the pool.

One friend from Australia named Lorraine was typically the leader of whatever we had going on. She was in charge of the Christmas candles in a bag (Luminaria) lining the streets of the PUD. Ladies golf and tennis tournaments. Christmas parties. Tennis and golf parties. Playgroups.

An Australian accent always made whatever she was saying better, more forceful and Bloody-hell was her favorite thing to say.

Bloody-this or that.

Her husband was an F15 test pilot.

They met in New Zealand.

He was an adrenaline junkie, and then he wasn’t.

I’ve never been sure what really happened, but he joined the Pentacostal church encouraged by a mutual friend whom we called Uncle Bill.

Now at the time I didn’t know what the Pentecostal church was all about, but in reading I found out.

Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant, Evangelical movement that emphasizes direct personal experience of God through baptism with the Holy Spirit and emphasizes the baptism with supernatural gifts, especially speaking in tongues.

Lorraine, not being very religious or even spiritual found the whole conversion bloody-ridiculous.

“They bloody-clap, shout, raise their hands and dance in bloody-church.”

Lorraine’s family was pretty well-to-do back in Sydney so she had money. Money enough to buy her husband Richard a 1994 Dodge Viper for his 35th birthday.

Telling us at the pool “that ought to bring him back to his bloody-senses”.

We all attended the catered birthday party. It was a very nice occasion. Richard was flabbergasted at the gesture of being gifted a 1994 red Dodge Viper.

“It’s too much.”

We hadn’t seen her since the birthday party, but several days later, mid afternoon, Lorraine appeared at the pool.

Sizing up the situation, knowing there were probably cocktails present as well, In her best commanding voice: “YOU” pointing at me “how long have you been here?”

I replied, “I just got here.”

“Good. You’re coming with me.”

“Why?”

“Richard gave the bloody-Viper (with the Australian accent pronounced vi-pawr) to that church.”

A group gasp.

We drove to the church where the Viper was parked in the lot. Lorraine went into the office. There was shouting I couldn’t hear.

Then Lorraine appeared with the keys to the Viper.

It was the first and last time I drove a minivan.

I wasn’t even allowed to drive the Viper.

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