8. Every 80s Child Knows the Pain of Getting Branded by One of These Seat Belts on a Hot Summer Day
Growing up in the 1980s makes it difficult to forget the times you would crawl into the car while Mom was loading the truck on a hot day, hoping she would not know you were avoiding the sizzling metal seatbelt. She advised you, of course, to put it on right away upon her hopping in, where we all had to essentially face the absolutely unavoidable burning hot seatbelt.
Every child from the 1980s is aware of the suffering of being branded by those sweltering hot buckles on a summer day while trying to locate a cool place on the same seat. It was like a rite of passage, a challenge of daring and fast reactions. Knowing full well what was coming, you would gently reach for the seatbelt. The key was to grab it fast so as to reduce skin contact. Not to mention the vinyl seats with their unique sort of agony. At the ride's finish, you would peel yourself off them leaving half of your skin behind. Among the smart children among us learnt to pack long pants even in the warmest weather and a towel for sitting on. And don't even start us on the steering wheel; poor Dad would be gently dancing, touching it as little as possible while remaining under control of the vehicle. We all survived these automobile furnaces, which is incredible. Still, the prospect of ice cream or a beach day made all the difference. Children won't know the actual meaning of a "hot ride" these days as most cars have air conditioning standard.
