Shine bright like a Buick

by Madeline White

A frigid winter breeze gusts through the Providence High School parking lot. Dozens of car doors slam shut as students trudge into school for the day, wishing winter break would come sooner.

Moshier's car in the parking lot. Photo by Madeline White.

But off in the distance in the lot, there is a glimmer of hope. This hope is a champagne-colored 1994 Buick Century, belonging to junior Elizabeth Moshier. She has attracted much attention as goalie for the Providence women’s soccer team. Recently, Moshier has been attracting a different kind of attention in the parking lot.

When she returned home from a soccer tournament in Atlanta on December 2, Moshier discovered that her older brother had decked her car out in a bevy of Christmas lights, including the words ‘Merry Christmas’ on the car’s rear. She was “overwhelmed,” to say the least. “It was a combination of pain and sadness,” she adds with a laugh.

Although she has become accustomed to the holiday décor, Moshier didn’t originally plan on keeping the adornments. “I have no choice [in taking the lights off],” she says. “He drives my car all the time so it has to have the lights on it.” However, other driver’s reactions to her car have made the experience worthwhile. “They’ve been good so far,” Moshier said. “I’ve been winked at and yelled at,” she adds.

One particular response to her car was greatly unexpected.  “Someone flashed my vehicle [by not wearing clothes],” she says, trying to hold back a laugh. “I felt unsettled but amused. What am I to do but let them have some Christmas spirit?”

The Buick’s celebrity-status often makes Moshier the star of candid photos. “People love to take pictures, whether I know they’re taking pictures or not.” This fame has even filtered into the student parking lot. Many students stop by parking spot 293 to snap pictures of the car before heading into or leaving the school.

But the glory of being “the holiday car chick” isn’t limited to just Moshier. Sophomore Anna Dalton, whom she drives home from school, is also in on the notoriety. “I feel like a superstar,” she says. “Everyone just stares at you.” This new reputation doesn’t bother Dalton in the least. “We’re just trying to spread the Christmas cheer. It’s all good,” she adds.

The car’s flashy decorations have shown Moshier how excited people get around the holidays. “People just really like to bring out the Christmas spirit when they follow me home,” she jokes. These jolly reactions may have even inspired to her to deck out her car for other holidays. “Maybe I’ll just be the holiday car girl,” she says with a smile.

Despite all of the attention her car brings, Moshier understands all good things must come to an end. “I’ve told [my brother] the lights need to be off by Christmas,” she says. But she says she’s in no rush to get rid of the embellishments. “It will probably be around New Year’s [when the lights are removed].”

But for now, Moshier will drive her Lite-Brite-like Buick with pride. She and Dalton plan on getting even more festive as the holidays get closer. “We’ll also be wearing our Santa hats the week before winter break to really get the spirit going.”

If you see Moshier driving, feel free to give her a wave. She doesn’t even mind if you take a picture or two and says she can’t deprive drivers of photographing the car. But please do her a favor and keep your clothes on.