If you have ever been a fifty-year-old gay man who miraculously managed to avoid purchasing a car for the duration of his very colorful life then you will understand exactly what I am about to say. ( ← Verb tense Olympics? Yes, yes it was.) It turns out that buying a car was WAY different than I expected. There were no bidding wars, explosions, stacks of papers launched into the air, or high kicks, and the salesperson with whom I worked was pleasant and smelled nothing of shark. I was not required to provide 45 personal references nor did I make any promises regarding the rights to my grandmother. I learned that a 70’s-style mustache is a purely elective element when car shopping… though money, unfortunately, is not. Even if I were paying with nickels I could not have stumbled into a better dealership or found kinder, fairer, or more pleasantly dedicated people had the Universe herself scheduled my appointment at Shawnee Mission Kia. Have you ever experienced that moment when meeting someone new that you feel like you’ve been friends for 6 lifetimes? Or met a person who knows how to get your brain, your soul, and your belly to laugh at the same time? ←That would be Angela. She is in charge of the service department and is now forever in charge of my entertainment. Matt J. works in the finance department and had the delightful assignment (the poor creature) of attempting to communicate with my brain while speaking Geomegebra- or whatever it’s called. MATH. Ugh. ( My name is Matthew but should have been Math-EWW. ) Matt J. was the most patient, articulate, patient, funny, patient man. Even though I bought my car a few months ago, I still consult him periodically for advice. Yes, I am certain that he likes it. Every time I call Matt is eagerly waiting with his calculator and his answers. Thank you, Matt. You are a stud. Another dazzling sparkle at Shawnee Mission Kia is Miss Alyssa. ← I wish I could put sparkly things all the way around her name! She is like the cool girl on CSI, only way better and less depressed. She lights up my day. Alyssa is one of those people unafraid to look directly into your soul. Her intelligence, competence, and her investment in the purchaser’s experience are communicated in everything that she does. Plus, her hair is the best shade of pink and that, my friends, is enough. I would never have guessed that my car buying experience would be what it has been- except for, maybe, the near-perfect slide across the convertible. To find myself in the hands of a team that is good at working together, good individually, a team that authentically cares about how they work, a team that considers my needs and what is realistic for my life, and a team that understands that leading their customers to victory is the path on which their team finds victory- is incredible. I am beyond lucky. I am grateful on a daily basis. The smile that swallows my face when I see my awesome Kia Soul gleaming in the sunlight- grateful. The joy I feel when unlocking my car door and hearing her happy welcoming chimes- grateful. When I can help a friend with a ride or take my dog to the park... all moments of gratitude. I am very grateful to Shawnee Mission Kia. Thank you for helping me get here. I hope that by sharing my experience it will help other car buyers find a similar happy place and happy face. There is no need to wait until you’re a 50-year-old before buying your next car. But if you do, Shawnee Mission Kia will absolutely make it worth the wait.