Car rear ends plastered with bumper stickers are a relatively rare occurrence in western Washington state, but they are most likely to be found where college students frequent.
When I started taking pictures of well-decorated cars, what most surprised me was that most of them were apparently driven by women. In addition, the bumper stickers on women’s cars were more interesting from a literary standpoint, e.g., they tended to display a greater sense of humor.
Thus, the focus of this post. These pictures were taken with an iPhone so the quality isn’t terrific. Small print can be more easily read if you click on a photo, which brings you to a Flickr album.
Still the same horse and boyfriend?
This Mazda 3 is apparently driven by a woman from Connecticut who has a passion for Sheltie dogs and ale drinking.
A small bumper sticker above the exhaust pipe warns that Arrogant Bastard ale isn’t “too expensive, you’re too CHEAP.”
Do you think the driver is still with the same guy who was around when she added the bumper sticker that implored: “Take my boyfriend. STAY AWAY from the horse.”
Make history before the zombies show up
The bumper stickers on this older Subaru mix feminism with whimsy.
As our banner photo shows more clearly, you are also advised to “quit your day job . . . find yourself.”
Presumably the driver did so via exploring pineapple heads, teddy bears, skeletal hands and the Black Mesa Research Facility.
The ‘beware’ on this Geo Metro is duly noted
The bumper stickers on this Geo Metro are more focused on sharing favorite activities such as Tush Burlesque and dancing with swords. The latter is where the “beware” comes in.
Hey, but at least she is “inspired by the mystery” and isn’t afraid to poke fun at her apparent penchant for tardiness.
The “I heart Oly” refers to Olympia, Washington, where she suggests that you “buy local.”
Where will the next bumper sticker go?
This Ford Focus has a classic array of Pacific Northwest earth goddess bumper stickers. For example, “Life is a witch and then you fly.”
The “cosexual” bumper sticker on the top right corner of the trunk led me to look up the word at the Urban Dictionary (2020), which defines it as, “Kind of like unisex, only when you can’t think of that word.”
Driving a Toyota Camry as a political act
This car offers a more serious mix of political slogans such as “Goddess bless the whole world — no exceptions.” Not even for zombies?
Okay, then cats it is . . .
Our final car, a Mazda Protege, has a touch of activism with the bumper sticker, “Support our teachers.”
However, the overall presentation is a bit more warm and cuddly — it includes a parade of four teddy bears and an “Enjoy being” bumper sticker.
On the other hand, the car’s driver admits to being “half crazy” for running a half marathon and prefers to be around cats more than people. Good to know.
NOTES:
This is an updated version of a photo essay originally posted December 14, 2014.
Share your reactions to this post with a comment below or a note to the editor.
RE:SOURCES
- Urban Dictionary; 2020. “Cosexual.” Accessed October 8.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
- Author’s photo gallery: “Wall-to-wall expression”
Be the first to comment