That Car

I cried a little bit today.  Pete sold my car.  Well, Peter set up the deal, and Pete finalized it.  It was sad to say goodbye to my white Honda van.  I intentionally looked back at it one last time, and mouthed "Goodbye" and "Thank you."  Silly, I know.  But letting go of that material thing brought back a lot of memories.  And lots of feelings of and reasons to be thankful.

I had that car when Sam was first diagnosed with diabetes in 2009.  It took us to the doctor many times for his diabetes and his eyes.  It later took us to hospitals and offices for his neurological issues and learning difficulties.  It was always dependable, and I never worried about being late or getting stuck on the side of the road.  It was a trusty part of the whole process.

Same with Andrew.  It was there to take us to the doctors who would help Andrew keep running.  It took us to the appointments where we found out not so good things were wrong.  In fact, I was at the dealership getting its oil changed when I found out about one awful disease.  But it took us to the appointments.

It took us to meets to see the boys run.  It took us to one track meet when we had three boys in the same race.  How many times does that happen?  We went to season meets and state meets in that car.  And the fun meets at McAlpine where Pete and I also ran in high school.  It climbed Grandfather to see The Bear.  It brought us safely home from far away places where college races were run.  Sometimes in terrible weather.

It took the boys to school and me to work every day for a long long time.  And it sat in many pick up lines while I read my favorite Robert Whitlow books.  It sat in dark parking lots while I waited on Andrew's track bus to get home at all hours of the night.

I'd like to say it took us on many vacations, but it only got to go on a few.  But that's okay.  It got us there and back.  Many trips to see family.   Always to church.  Lots of room for groceries and Christmas gift delivering.

It took large groups to gatherings.  It helped get other cars started.  It rode to the dealership on a rollback once, but it only needed a new battery!  Thank goodness!

It took me down the mountain almost two years ago to get Pete to the ER at Baptist.  I was so afraid taking him myself, but we knew we had to do it.  And the car was just there and dependable and no trouble as always.

It was between the white and navy vans.  I picked the white when the salesman in Hickory told me about his church and the other guys there who went to church with him.  I prayed about it and then got it.  I never went to see the navy one - which was my favorite color.  It has been the best car.

It was the car that flew over the roads just a little over the speed limit to get us to Andrew when he collapsed during a night meeting on campus.  It rolled me up beside the fire truck and police cars and ambulance.  And it waited until we got him out to take him home.

It took me to work and to doctor appointments in snow storms.  It would not climb hills well, but it was great in low gear to navigate winding downhills.  It stayed in its lane and out of the ditch on many occasions.

It was the car that picked up little puppy Lucy and brought her home as Sam's special buddy.  And it was the car that we had to pull and push Lucy out of before we could take Pete to Baptist when he had his worst stroke.

It  hauled lots of building supplies as we continue to remodel parts of our house.

It was plain and simple and non-descript.  But it was a big part of our family for eight years and many many miles.  We bought a newer one just like it, just a different color.  We hope it will be the same!

My van went to a good home.  A man bought it for an older couple at his church.  It will be a good car for them.  Pete said he sold it to "your dad".  He said the man was just like my dad.  That made me feel better.  It will probably last many more years and help many more people.

Funny how a car can bring back so many reasons to be thankful...Just a plain old car.