Goodbye Old Friend

Last week I had to say goodbye to a very close friend of mine.  My Subaru.  

The Subaru was my high school car and I drove it for 12 years.  I learned to drive stick on this car when I was 15.  I would never just go out looking to replace my darling car, but the Subaru was starting to show its age.  It had a tendency to die while I was driving it at high speeds.  And the air conditioning and defrost were gone. The car shook like crazy when I decelerated, which hinted to me that there might be issues with the brakes.  The radiator just broke. 

And then there was, of course, the lasting damage to the body work from where my charming ex-boyfriend shot up my car during college.  

Needless to say, there was some pressure on me to find a little something safer and more comfortable.  Which I'm pretty sure is any other car. 

I found Eloise very quickly.  I saw her online and Jeff helped me buy her the next day.  They say true love happens that way sometimes.  Eloise is a 2011 Ford Escape.  White.  With a manual transmission.  Apparently it is really rare to find an Escape with a manual transmission, so I feel extra lucky.  This car is a beauty and reminds me of how fun driving can be.  Plus, Bear seems to enjoy a smoother drive - he doesn't get jerked out of his seat anymore, which is nice. 

I'm not going to lie, I cried when I heard that my best bet was to trade in my Subaru that day.  I hadn't had any time to say goodbye!  But the $500 the dealership was offering me was probably the best I would get.  Ironically, I bought the Subaru from my parents for $500 in college.  Deal!

So, goodbye dear Subaru.  My companion from ages 15-27.  We've seen a lot.  You drove me cross country to college in DC - twice.  You carried home Christmas trees, and one time we had to use wine bottles to scrape the ice off your tires.  You brought home both Marley and baby Bear Broyles.  You drove me to my interview at Aurora West.  We explored Moab and Arkansas and Kansas.  You were the scene of some first kisses - and last kisses.  Fights and screams and complete breakdowns.  Your tape deck and rubbed off radio buttons never left me down.  So yes, goodbye old friend. 

But can I say HELLO beautiful Eloise!?  Here's to the next 12 years of my driving career!

I'm learning that change is a good thing.  A little bittersweet at times, but definitely a good thing.