We realized that the reason we were having a hard time getting rid of our Buick was that we didn't want to sell it. When a friend told me about donating her car a few weeks ago, I presented the idea to Nathan. SOLD.
We found a replacement car. Today, Cars Helping Veterans drove our 1991 Buick Lesabre away.
We bought it nine years ago, when we only had Andrew and Bryn. It worked especially well when we needed 3 car seats at a time (a position we've been in for the past 6.5 years). I stopped driving it when we were expecting Diana and 3 car seats wasn't going to cut it anymore.
Shortly after moving to TX, the fabric on the roof started to fall down . . . It's been held up with pins for the past 3 years. In the past year, it's had some rough moments. The driver's side door won't unlock from the outside. And then, there was the unforgettable drive north from Texas, when the car stopped working altogether. Dinner at a greasy, fly infested diner. After we paid a stranger (not a professional mechanic) $100 to fix it, my parents earned "Parents of the Year" award for driving it without air conditioning in late June the rest of the way. We fixed the air conditioner after we finished the long drive to Northern Colorado. It worked through the summer, and needs fixed again. The last money we spent on it was a new tire. It needs an oil change, a new windshield, new shocks, some transmission work, and a lot of love. More than we were willing to give.
It's funny how we get attached to cars. It was old and when we bought it. Together we laughed as we drove up to purchase it--because it was so square. It was the first car we bought together. Somehow we paid cash for it on almost no income. For many years we drove it without needing expensive repairs. I had serious labor contractions in that vehicle as we went to the hospital in it with only 3 children. Then only 4 children. And we brought both Diana and Ed home from the hospital in it. A thousand trips to the grocery store, the library, church. Driving from Park Ridge in the dark to Maywood and back again in the dark. And in Texas, north on 31st in the morning, and south at night. Thankfully, a shorter drive.
It is not hard to adjust to the newer car, just feels a little like saying goodbye to someone who has been with you for the blur of memories that have been the past 70,000 miles. Andrew asked if we would keep it until he is driving, for the record. We said no. And I took back some of my pins.
Thanks, Buick, for the ride! We will miss you.
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| Waving goodbye |
