The options checklist is a new car buyer’s chance to mix and match parts and packages to tailor their car to their personality and performance expectations. On modern cars it’s mostly focused on creature comforts and styling with drivetrain options fairly locked in by the chosen model. For example: You want a new Mustang GT, you get the 5.0, but for the blown 5.4, you step up to the GT500.

There is a collective memory that a good many of us share of childhood. A warm summer afternoon, easing into evening as the lights of the county fair take to filling the sky. The clang, clang, clang of the rides and games explode in our ear drums as we run through the penny arcade, past the churro stands and the taffy machines. Mom yells “slow down!” as we skid to a halt and huddle around the caramel apple stand. One by one the painted carny dips the deep red apples in warm, gooey caramel and stoops to hand them out. With each apple, the carny offers a smile and a wink, assuring that he’s picked out the best, most special apple just for you.