The Way Back Seat

Right after we had our second child, we bought a station wagon.
It was white.
It had plenty of room for the four of us at the time.
It had a lot of room in the back for our groceries.

Hidden away in the back cargo space was something you would never know was there.
Hidden away, able to be flipped up or down, was the way back seat.
I have no idea if that was truly the name of the seat.
Perhaps it is the name my husband gave to it.

The way back seat faced backwards.
The way back seat had seat belts.
When my two older daughters were young, there were only infant and toddler car seats.
Booster seats were not required in the 80s.

We were faithful to use the rear facing infant seat.
We were faithful to use the car seat for our children as toddlers.
Car seats were not widely used until 1985.
Our first two children were born in 1984 and 1986.

In 1989, shoulder belts were requited for all new passenger cars.
It was not until the year 2000 that there were laws for booster seats.
My other children were born in 1989, 1992, and 1995.
I see what is required for my granddaughter, which is quite different from my experience.

When not in a car sear, my older daughters wore their seat belts.
No one sat in the front seat until they were much older and much taller.
Air bags were not in cars then and passenger side airbags would come much later.
Allowing our children to sit in the way back seat was not only fun but it was legal.

My girls loved to sit back there.
They felt as if they were in their own little world.
They would play a game as we drove along.
They would wave to people driving behind us to see if they could get the person to wave back.

When the driver behind us waved at them, they squealed with delight.
I could see them in my rear view mirror.
I could also see the driver behind us, who was smiling from ear to ear at my little girls.
The way back seat kept them occupied as we drove from one place to another.

We were talking about the way back seat not too long ago.
Mom, how was that way back seat safe? One of my children asked me.
You do realize if we were hit from behind, whoever was in the way back seat would be hit first.
We didn’t think about any of that, I admitted, it was a way for all of us to fit in the car.

I remember the night was had finished a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs.
We were driving somewhere as a family.
My two daughters were in the way back seat.
Our oldest son was in his car seat in the back seat behind my husband.

My younger daughter called to us that her sister had gotten sick.
It was probably a combination of just eating dinner and riding backwards.
We had to stop on a little country road and I tried to clean her up as best I could.
I remember a police officer stopping to see if we were okay.

The police officer knew right away what had happened.
That was the longest car ride home.
I put her in the tub, while my husband cleaned the car.
Even her Teddy, which went everywhere with her, needed to be washed.

Teddy’s bath was more traumatizing to her than getting sick in the way back seat.
After her bath, she waited in the laundry room until Teddy was dry in the dryer.
There was no going to sleep without him.
That was a long night.

I thought of all of this because of the little girl.
Though she was not in a way back seat, she waved to other drivers just like my girls did.
I saw her as I was driving along.
At an intersection, I looked over and she was next to me.

She had the sweetest smile.
She had the friendliest wave.
I waved back.
She was so excited; I could imagine her squeals of delight.

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. (Psalm 34:5)

I wonder how many days were brightened by the smiles of my little girls?
I know there were people who never waved back.
However, for the many who did wave, a greeting was exchanged between them.
Even from one car to another, a greeting was shared.

It is so important to greet someone with a smile.
How much brighter their day will be when we exude joy in our countenance.
My day was brightened by the smile of that sweet little girl.
I only hope that the joy of the Lord is evident in my smile when I greet someone.

Oh, for the return of the way back back seat.
A seat that gives you the perfect excuse to smile at the person behind you.
However, we do not need an excuse.
If we are in Christ, joy should be all over our faces.

Try it today.
Smile at those with whom you come in contact.
It just may change the course of their day.
Maybe you will even hear some squeals of delight, all to His glory.

2 responses to “The Way Back Seat”

1. Gina, what a memory! As far as I’m concerned, you are 100% right about the “Way Back. terminology.. When our kids were young we took them to a car dealership where we were going to buy a smaller size Chevy wagon with a “Way Back” seat. The two older kids got in the Way Back and decided it was too small. Thus we ended up with a full size wagon. We had three boys who when going out the front door would yell their seat position: “Way Back!” to save their position. We had that car for 10 years and I think it was the favorite car of the whole family because of our memories in it. Having all boys, they not only waved, but when a big truck was behind us they would pump their fist to try to get the driver to blow his air horn. I still remember as a kid doing that by leaning over the back seat to encourage the driver behind us to take action. Now, in the Amish country, we love to wave and smile at the buggies in front of us, loaded with small kids looking back at us. Yes, smiles & waves are very important.
   Jeff

   Reply

   • Jeff,
     I laughed at the memory of your boys wanting the truck driver to blow his air horn. My boys used to do that from time to time as well. I’m glad that someone else called it the Way Back seat. It was a favorite car of ours as well. Oh, the memories…
     Gina

     Reply