and now she's gone  



My baby was MY very first car.  I "won" her (and her payments) in my divorce.  The title was in my name.  I (with Scott's help) paid off her loan.  I owned her.  She has taken me (or more correctly, us) all over the US.  When the ex and I bought her, she had 6 miles on her.  When the tow guy backed her out of the drive and loaded her onto the flatbed, she had over 123,000.  I think she may have had maybe 15,000 and something (if that) on her when I met Scott.  She made many trips from South Jersey to Central Jersey, down to Delaware, up to the New England states, to New York;  and then she moved us here to Austin.

She made the trip from here back to NJ (and back to Austin again) at least 5 times.  She has taken us to LA and San Francisco and back.  Out to Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi...and all over this great state of Texas.  I spent so much of my time in her when I was in NJ, running the kids all over.  Even though most of that time she had the ex's name on her title, I still drove her most of the time.  They were my doodads hanging from the mirror, my radio stations programmed into her radio, my window decals clinging to her back window. 

It was so sad watching her leave.  I wish she didn't need so much work on her.  Just to get her fixed enough to pass inspection would have cost us about $2000.  On top of that there were a few other things that she really needed to have done.  Looking it all over, we really couldn't afford to put anything more into her.  There was no guaranty that she would last much longer.  Her transmission was getting bad. She had a bunch of leaks.  Her air conditioner was shot (Texas with no air conditioning???). It was best to let her go.  I checked into donating her and found "Safe Place". It is an organization that helps battered wives and kids.  Perfect!!  I know the money she raises will go to help someone and that makes me feel so much better.

But I am still going to miss the old girl!  

Have a good one Y'all!!