My First Car: '78 Lincoln Continental, Donna Bailey, 45, St. Petersburg

'78 Lincoln Continental

My first car is a 1978 Lincoln Continental (later named Roy by my daughter) that was owned by my in-laws, Helen and Donald Bailey. The soft cream-yellow car with burgundy leather interior was purchased in 1980 as a gift to my mother-in-law from my father-in-law. My husband and I met at the young age of 16 in 1981 and it was the first car I learned to drive. At the age of 17, I had taken my driving test in this car in Spotsylvania County, Va., a rural area with winding country roads. I lined up the car's hood ornament with the edge of the road while listening to the eight-track playing Johnny Cash, the smell of spring and leather whiffed through the air. In 1983, just after my high school graduation, my husband and I were married and moved with his parents to St. Petersburg along with Roy. Unfortunately, my in-laws have since passed away, Mom prior to Dad. Dad was so proud to have given the Lincoln to Mom. In his last days he asked one thing and that was not to ever sell Roy and keep it in good working order. Today, with only 88,000 original miles, Roy is driven every day by my husband or myself; even my son at the age of 19. The eight-track still plays tunes of Johnny and the burgundy leather still has the scent that reminds me of the days I drove it on those southern roads. Today as I glance through the windshield to the right, I see Mom's name, "Helen", embroidered on the dash, reminding me of days gone by. (The current photo was taken by my manager at a local bank. She and my co-workers have a good laugh every time I drive it to work and have named it The Love Shack.)