I was standing in line at Hertz when I noticed that the representatives behind the counter were all a fluster with frustration over the customer ahead of me because he wanted . . .
(wait for it)

an American car.

I found the whole situation very intriguing.
He was demanding an American car.

There's only one other person that I know that would do something as completely absurd as that.

My husband.

You see, my husband is from Detroit. And he has a lot of Detroit pride. So much so that he remains a Lions fan. Year after losing year. But that's a different story.

I have learned that when you're from Detroit? You like cars. But more specifically, you like American cars. I'm not even kidding, y'all. E-VER-Y person I've met from Detroit can talk my ear off about the difference in size and shape of each and every aspect of a car – from headlights to tailpipes.

There's a lot of pride in the industry that is essentially the foundation of Detroit's identity (which is why Detroit is undergoing such an identity crisis right now – but once again, that is a different story).

As I stood there, I denied the counter representatives a sympathetic roll of the eyes and lended my attention to the crazy I-want-an-American-car guy (which I was punished for later by their giving me a smaller class car than I paid for – which meant that I had to drag all of my bags, the car seat & the girl another quarter mile back to the counter to fix their mistake; but I digress).

The more we chit-chatted about Detroit and the car industry, the more I admired what this guy was doing. He was standing up for something he believed in. Something he felt very passionate about.

All too easily we set aside our passions to accomodate other people's lives.

I used to poke fun at my husband for being so pro-American car, but I've come to realize that that passion for Made in the U.S.A. is exactly what this country needs.

Most of you know I like to advocate for local businesses. I tell people to support our local, independent shops and retaurants All. Of. The. Time. I hate seeing the same box-stores on every street corner. Independent businesses are what give each town their own identity – and personality. . . (again with the digressing).

But the same logic can work for American industry in general.

Support America.

Buy American.

A lot of you already do so by shopping on Etsy, or frequenting your local farmer's market, etc. But I'd like to challenge you to buy American whenever you can.

I realize that it's so much more economical to visit Wal-Mart, Target, Old Navy (which is not what I mean when I say buy American, because when you shop there you're mostly buying Chinese). No. I'm not a total elitist. I get it . . . and I'm totally down with the $5 shirts, pants, shoes that I can get for my growing-like-a-weed little girl. Been there. Done that.

But as I challenge myself to become more socially responsible? I'm starting to look at the big picture. Starting to ask myself what impact my purchases are making on a more global scale.

I'm not sure I like what I see. So I'm committing myself to making a few changes. Starting with a commitment to buying American cars (my husband will be so happy! And so proud).

* * * * *

Did that guy ever get his American car? Yes he did! (And I have a tendency to believe that the car rental representatives made a huge deal out of a simple request, simply because he dared to make the request).

The coolest part of the whole experience? When I went back to get the proper vehicle class that I had paid for, instead of going back into the 'regular' counter, I visited the Gold Club counter, where the representative went above and beyond – noticing I was traveling alone with a kid and a million bags, he walked the quarter of a mile to get the car and drive it up to the curb for me (chivalry lives).

But that's not all.

I got an American car!
(as opposed to the foreign mid-size car they tried to stick me with)

A Ford Fusion that I absolutely loved. Karma.

Viva la resistance! Viva AMERICA!