Remember hood ornaments? Back in the 40s and 50s? The streamlined decoration at the very front of the engine; remember those? The ram (Dodge), stylized airplanes or trains (Olds and others), wings (Ford), assorted female figures and Art Deco-ish shapes? Long gone, these days, sacrificed to the gods of safety. (Samples here.)
We had our own custom hood ornament for a few minutes, the other day.
We had driven down to White Rock on a rainy morning to pick up black oil sunflower seeds for the chickadees (another story; later). We ate lunch in a crowded, drafty cafe, headed back to the car. That was it? It was a pity to drive to White Rock and not at least look at the beach, rain or no rain. We drove on down the hill, following our noses. 
The tide was at the top of its range, the promenade deserted except for the seagulls sitting along the train tracks. The logs that usually line the beach were now floating, pushing their way inland. MN got out to take photos. I took one look at the whitecaps and the rain on my windshield and opted to stay in the car, keeping the heater going.
A few seagulls came over to investigate; I dug out a bag of seeds, saved for ducks, rolled down the window and tossed out a handful. All down the tracks gulls lifted into the wind, wheeled, dropped down to see what was on offer, turned up their collective noses and wandered off. Sorry, guys; I know you don't like seeds; I should have brought you a sandwich.
MN came back to the car, looking chilled. We sat while he changed the film. And a young seagull plopped himself down on the motor and stood there, looking in, probably hoping for that non-existent sandwich. We took photos; he didn't seem fazed by the flash. I turned on the wipers for a second, and he jumped back a few inches, extending his wings as if to fly off, then changed his mind and settled down to wait.
But we had to go. I backed out of the parking space and down the lane. Our ornament rode with us, unconcerned, all the way back to the main road.
Better than an Art Deco thingamabob, any day.
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