the family truckster

Ten years ago, next month, we bought our 1st family car! A 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan. We purchased it in Madison Wisconsin. Our first child was 9 months old and our 2-door Buick, minus air conditioning, was just not cutting it anymore. Well ten years, and almost 150,000 miles later, our family car is still running, but in car terms can officially be called a "senior citizen"!

Don't get me wrong! There is still a TON of life in this car. Boy, looking back it had a full life. It has been to Florida and back a couple of times. Around Lake Michigan several times. It has lived in 4 states. It has seen snow, sun, salt, and the sea. It has the "age spots" to prove it, too. It has most of its original parts..only slight cosmetic work, not major face lifts! No major "surgeries" under the hood..only the standard. The usual.

This car became seasoned with the addition of each of our three children. It had all the usual wear and tear...stains, spills, spots, even cat pee!! (ick!) It has driven around family, friends, pets, neighbors. It has hauled boats. Picked up curb-side acquisitions. Carried bikes and skis. It has rushed to the hospital to deliver babies and get stitches. It has been a good, no a great, friend!

With each passing year though, the toll of her age is ever more present. Currently, rust is forming a jigsaw puzzle pattern on her lower parts. There is a scratch mark in the shape of a pitchfork on her hood. The heater only works in certain settings. The air conditioning only comes out as a slight breeze. The rear wiper works only if you put the rear defroster on first. These are little things. These are character marks that only come with age.

The thought has crossed my mind, however, that "she" is only going to last for so long. Then what? The thought of looking for another car is frightful. How does one part with the familiar? The SO familiar!