Linsey Lanier
Sally Kilpatrick
Sia Huff
Romily Bernard
Darcy Crowder
Marilyn Baron
Tami Brothers
Sandra Elzie
Carol Burnside
Debbie Kaufman
Maxine Davis
Tammy Schubert
Susan Carlisle
Pam Asberry
Lindy Chaffin StartTami Brothers – Gang Member!
By Tami Brothers
Okay, so maybe it’s more of a Secret Society than a gang, but it’s still a select group that very few people know about. Heck, I didn’t even know I was joining one until I was already a member.
What am I talking about, you ask? Well, it’s the Owners and Operators of Jeep Wranglers club. I know, I know. Not a very exciting name. In fact
, that’s not even the name. We don’t really have a name. AND we don’t really do anything officially. I don’t get junk mail, advertisements or even welcome cards.
Of course there are whole clubs dedicated to people who own Jeeps. But those aren’t the ones I’m talking about here. What I mean by this being a secret society is no one mentioned that once I took my Jeep out onto the road, EVERYONE else who owns and drives a Jeep would all of a sudden became my best friend. The first time some guy stuck his hand out the side window to wave, I thought maybe there was a cop up ahead. Then when it happened again and again, I started wondering if I was driving a Jeep that looked like someone else’s. You know, the person they were actually waving at.
It wasn’t until we took our new toy for a trip to Alabama that I started to get the picture.
That was my first induction into this secret club. Since then we’ve had people come up to us at places like Sonic and discuss the ins and outs of our full figured Bikini top vs their mesh strapless Bikini top (for those not in the know, this is a cover for the top of the Jeep to keep the sun from glaring down on the riders and to block some of the rain when it happens to pour on us); we’ve been in the parking lot of the grocery store when someone asked us about our option to go doorless in the summer or if we had considered half doors; a guy at worked asked what kind of gas mileage our two-wheel drive gets compared to their four- wheel drive; still another person wanted to know how we liked our four doors compared to the two doors style.
I’m not kidding you when I tell you that EVERYONE driving a Jeep makes an effort to nod, wave, talk or acknowledge you somehow. And if you don’t wave back, oh man, I don’t even want to THINK about those consequences. 
I honestly didn’t know about this comradery before I bought my Jeep, but I really like it. I feel like no matter where I go, as long as I can find another Jeep owner, I can make a friend.
In case you’re wondering if this was limited to Jeep owners, let me set you straight. There are whole other secret societies out there we just don’t know about, yet. For one, if you own and ride a motorcycle, you probably know what I mean. A few years ago my husband, son and I met up with my father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law and his wife to ride Harleys through the Arizona Mountains. Same thing happened as with the Jeep. Everywhere we went, other motorcycle riders stopped to talk or waved as they drove by. We visited with and ate with doctors, lawyers, mechanics, waitresses and retired folk. It was awesome and left me feeling like I was beyond special to be a part of such a diverse group of people.
I’m sure these aren’t the only groups out there. Anyone willing to break their vow of silence and spill the beans on some secret organization or gang you happen to be a part of? I’m sure no one will lose a kneecap if they mention it here.
Tags: Jeep, Tami Brothers
About the author
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Tami Brothers | http://www.tamibrothers.com I’ve always wanted to live a fun, sexy and exciting life. But when my clumsiness left me with an aversion to high heels, my fear of wardrobe malfunctions cut out those plunging necklines, and my skydiving instructor politely suggested I take up golf; I decided the only way to keep from breaking my neck would be to write about such a life.
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August 27th, 2010 at 5:26 am
Hi Tami,
Interesting. I hadn’t thought about this for awhile, but in 1988 we bought a black Trams Am. (looked just like “Kit” in the old TV sitcom Knight Rider).
Like with your Jeep, everyone who owned one was suddenly a friend. We were even asked to join an organized group of Trams An owners. We’d go on trips together. We had CBs to keep in touch with “handles” like, Black Rider, Black Widow, (that was us) etc. Lots of fun. Thanks for the memory.
Sandy
August 27th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Hey Sandy! I can totally see the two of you riding around in your ‘Kit’ (I LOVED that show!!!). I always dreamed of owning a Jeep. Especially after watching shows like the Dukes of Hazard (Daisy had a white Jeep). I always thought it was super cool. I just didn’t know about the side perks…grin…
Love those handles!!!
Tami
August 27th, 2010 at 8:55 am
I got a PT Cruiser when the first came out. Any other PT driver I passed on the road waved. Not that way because there are so many but it was fun while it lasted. My first car was a MGB. I was a part of a secret club with that car big time. People who owned one of those thought the car was very special. I know I did. I loved that car it just wouldn’t hold four children and bags of food when that time came.
August 27th, 2010 at 11:01 am
That’s neat. I never had a jeep or rode a motorcycle (I’ve ridden on the back of my husband’s motorcyle in college). I think it’s the same ways with dogs. I had a Bichon Frise and everyone who had a Bichon would come up and comment and I’d do the same with their Bichons.
I have a friend who owns a motorcyle and drives all around the country on it. I don’t know the brand but according to him everyone is friendly and it’s the “You never meet a stranger” type of camaraderie.
I think it’s because people have an affinity with those who like the same things they do or have the same things they have. People who have kids the same age, the same religion, politics, etc. People want to reach out and connect and that’s one way to do it. It also validates their decisions.
Now I sound like a psychologist.
I like your idea of a “secret society.”
Marilyn
August 27th, 2010 at 11:06 am
I belong to two secret societies: BMW convertibles and convertible owners. I drive a classic 19yrold 325 CI. I always get the waves or the head nods.
Maxine I think you’re right. It is a way to connect.
August 27th, 2010 at 11:45 am
We used to have a boat, a “pleasure cruiser”. It’s the same kind of society, the waving, the sharing, the pontooning… Heh. I miss those days.
They say the happiest days in a boat owners’ life is the day s/he buys the boat and the day s/he sells it.
Money pit, but soooooo much fun!
(I have always wanted a Jeep too, but it’s not practical with our winters!)
Cheers,
Deb
August 27th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Hey Susan! My mom had a PT Cruiser. She loved that car! I had to look up the MGB and that one is awesome! I can see why you loved it. I hear ya on the fitting the kids thing. We had to get rid of a car for that reason, too.
Hi Marilyn! I never thought about the dogs angle. Had to look up the Bichon Frise. They are cute. I can totally see people coming up and talking to you with that on the end of a leash. I love your analysis and I totally agree. I just thought over the group of friends my husband and I have and most of them we met through the kid’s sports/clubs/band activities. We have made some great, lifelong (we hope) friends through that.
Hey Debbie! I love convertibles. Please tell me this is what we will be riding in to go to Alabama? I so can’t wait for that trip next month. And I can see you tooling around in a little convertible. I love it!
Hi Deborah! LOVE the picture, girl!!! Boats! I never thought about the boats. Never had one but I’ve ridden with several friends in theirs and you are so right. It was like one big party when we were out on the lake. AND I totally agree with you and the weather. We came from Wyoming and would not have attempted a convertible there. The ‘convertible’ weather was only a few months out of the year and we could not afford a vehicle we could only drive a few months of the year (for those not familiar with the cold weather having a soft top in the snow is NOT a good thing….brrrrrr…..). Since we’ve been to Georgia, we’ve had a cute little convertible sports car (Saturn Sky – loved that until someone hit us at a stop light and the minor damage the police thought was wrong with it turned into something that totaled the car) and now the Jeep. Of course the flip side is that we actually have to put the top back on the Jeep during the really hot months of the summer. For two weeks we just braved the heat and rain until we got caught in a storm while headed to work. That (and the look my hubby gave me) had me agreeing to put it back on until cooler (and less rainy) weather.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your ‘secret societies’. Who knew there were so many of them.
Anyone else want to share theirs?
Tami
August 27th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Wearing my UT gear often starts interesting conversations–some good, some bad. My son’s preschool teacher, also a UT grad, let him be line leader on the days he wore orange.
Um, my Pontiac Aztek was a conversation starter. Most folks shared a universal love for the space with disdain for the frequent mechanical problems.
Other than that, I must belong to a secret society that I’m not really aware of, the “Tell me all about yourself” society. I once ended up having my picture taken with Ben Franklin in a Boston T Station. The lady in the post office yesterday gave me a 5 minute diatribe about her supervisor and a roll of Scotch tape. In Wal-Mart about a month ago, a lady asked me if I spoke Spanish–I do, but I don’t look it, per se–and asked me to explain the difference between two different boxes of hair relaxer. I’ve even had random mothers ask me developmental questions–some rather personal–just because I had a kid with me. Fortunately for all involved, I’m not exactly a shrinking violet.
August 27th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
ROFL, Sally! I can totally see people coming up to you, though. You just have that personality. Then when people hear you talk, they are just drawn in. Sorry, girl. I think you’ll probably get that a lot because we just can’t help but like you…grin…
I never thought about the sports gear! I should have, though. I had a guy tell me Jeff Gordon sucked when he saw me wearing a t-shirt I had borrowed from a friend to paint in. She is a HUGE Jeff Gordon fan and I’m really glad she didn’t go with me to Lowes (he was probably a Jimmy Johnson fan, just now caught that…hmmmmm…) to pick up some more paint or I might have had to bail her out of jail when she went off on the guy…grin…
Still grinning about the scotch tape lady. It’s funny to think about. Were you wearing something that she might have connected with? Maybe this phenomenon can explain some of those senseless attacks people have experienced through the years? I wonder if the other person just didn’t like their sports colors?
Thanks for sharing, Sally!
Tami
August 27th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
With my hubby and I, it’s the dogs that draw people in. In addition to the English Setter, we have 2 Pudelpointers (bird dogs)and no one is quite sure what they are. And of course, hubby is a member of NAVHDA – North Amerian Versatile Hunting Dogs Association. Gotta have a ‘club’ to go with the dogs.
August 27th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Hey Deborah!
I just stopped back by to see who had commented and what they had said and I noticed for the first time that your picture is on the sidebar! Looking good, girl! (Waving from south of you)
Of course, it’s probably been there for weeks and I just noticed it….thus proving there is some truth to all the blond jokes. (g)
Sandy
August 27th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Tami,
Oh the post office tape thing was beyond hilarious, but there’s not enough room in the comment box to tell the whole story. Come to think of it, both she and the guy behind her were threatening to refuse me service because I was wearing a Dallas Cowboys shirt. Maybe folks just feel the need to comment on any type of sports shirt I have on, and the conversation goes from there….
August 27th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Hey Carol! Love those dogs. I saw pictures of them on your blog. Very nice. I can see them being a huge conversation starter. Love that “Gotta have a ‘club’ to go with the dogs.”
I saw the same thing, Sandy! This was the first time I noticed Deborah’s picture, too.
We’ll have to hear that story sometime, Sally. I can just imagine how it started. I figured a shirt might have had something to do with it. I agree about people relating to them. I think that is a very “American” type of thing. The t-shirt is very universal and a GREAT way to advertise just about anything. I’ll be looking for a blog post on this…
Tami