TJ? YJ? CJ? XJ?

Okay - so I admit - I'm pretty new to the whole Jeep thing and sadly I never really knew what kind of Jeep Wrangler I own. I've heard Jeeps called CJ but I didn't know that the models spanned practically the whole alphabet. Here's something I learned last night while spending quality time on the net...

SJ...Wagoneers, Old (Big) Cherokees

MJ...Commanches

XJ..."Small" Cherokees

YJ...Wrangler '87-'95

DJ...those cute little postal Jeeps (also "Clean Sweep Jeep" circa CR Conference Grounds Campground)

TJ...The '97 Wrangler

ZJ...The Grand Cherokees
Did you know FJ...The Eagle Talon

What do they mean? CJ meant "Civilian Jeep". A brief history of the Wrangler is in order here. Back in World War II, Willys-Overland designed the first military Jeeps. After the war ended, returning GI's thought of using Jeeps for civilian use, and Willys-Overland saw a market. Thus began the first CJ-2A, which stands for Civilian Jeep. The rest don't mean anything...they're just body model codes...for instance:

TJJL77...A Wrangler 4x4

XJJL74...a Cherokee 4x4

XJJL72...a Cherokee 4x2

It's a Jeep thing... you wouldn't understand.

Did you know... that there is an understood camaraderie between those among us who choose Jeep as their brand of vehicle? So much so - that they wave to each other - total strangers. I didn't really believe it at first but it's true, and I have to say, I have since been won over by the "Jeep wave".

Two of the most common waves that I exhibit when driving my Jeep include the "one handed wave" and the "fingers raised + headnod". Since my Jeep is a 5 speed manual, it's generally my left hand that is involved in keeping this cardinal rule of jeeping. The one handed wave involves lifting your hand up above the windshield or if it's an especially nice day and the doors are off, I may opt for the low, left hand wave outside the body of the vehicle. I've adapted this from my experience with motorcyclists as well - but be careful you don't confuse the motorcycle "finger wave" with the full hand "Jeep wave". There is a clear distinction. The other very popular and less involved Jeep wave I employ is the raised fingers from the steering wheel and nod at the fellow Jeep owner.
There are even times while riding in other vehicles that I forget I'm not in my cute little red Jeep. I still find myself waving at fellow Jeep'ers, they probably look at me like I'm a little strange but I think they ultimately understand.

Because it's a Jeep thing.

(P.S. this is one of my favorite pics I took of the Jeep a few weeks ago.)

I'm here!

Well, I'm here. I just started my own blog. It feels so official - does this mean I have arrived? That I have finally become somebody? Or am I, in all actuality just another somebody in a sea of nobodies? Either way, I think I'll have fun with this. The idea that someone all the way around the world, 30 minutes away or even across the hall at Steelcase 'Galactic Headquarters' just might read what I write and better yet, might be able to relate... I am humbled and would feel honored.

I have no real goal of what I intend my blog to be or what I hope to gain from it. I guess I'll learn as I go. And by no means will I even attempt to promise to be updating this with any sort of regularity.

My friends, I hereby extend my invitation to you, to join me on this journey.