Exactly one month from today, we will be driving Sarah to Regent University. We will drop her off and drive home alone–just Ma and Pa Smith heading home to an empty nest and a new chapter.
(Edited to add: a couple people asked if that preceding paragraph meant that Sarah could not have her car on campus. Yes, she can have it; I just worded it awkwardly. She will drive her vehicle and we will drive our vehicle and after we get her settled in, we will leave in our vehicle. So we are sort of dropping her off, but not really, since she will be driving herself. Whew. That was complicated!)
Something tells me that our already spoiled dog is going to receive even more doses of spoilage in the months to come since my grown up girl will no longer be available to received my maternal ministrations. I can’t imagine that Summer will mind too much.
I snapped these photos of Sarah before worship team rehearsal last Sunday morning.
So very, very grown up.
Do you remember when she used to look like this?
Yeah. Me, too.
In other news, one week from today, the three of us will head out to Florida for a week of vacation with our beloved, far away family.
On the way there, we are stopping by a Ford dealership to leave our van and drive off in a new (to us) vehicle–a red, 2013 Ford Edge Ltd.
We have done what we always do–driven the wheels off of a vehicle before replacing it. At this point, the van is worth $450 and is needing repairs costing far more than its value, so we figure it’s time.
I have to say I am excited about getting this new vehicle although I told Steve he needs to be prepared to have me shed some tears when we drive away.
Even though the headliner of the van is falling down and hitting me on the head (messing up my hair), and there is a big dent in the bumper (where Sarah tangled with a fire hydrant when she was learning to drive), and there are bleach stains on the back carpet (when we were hauling bleach around to help people clean up after the last hurricane) and the air conditioner barely works (not a happy thought in NC heat and humidity) and the power steering has some major issues, I will still miss it.
That 2002 Town and Country minivan ferried us safely to Wisconsin for Christmas in 2008, the year before my dad died. It took us to Florida when we dropped Nathan off at college. It took me to and from my breast cancer appointments and surgeries. And most importantly, it is the vehicle that is our last connection to those years when both kids were still at home. I drove Nathan to and from sports practices and games, dropped the kids off at school, and chauffeured Nathan and Meagan around for their first date. (Before Nathan had a license.)
I am getting teary-eyed already. (Does anyone else get emotional over saying goodbye to vehicles, or is it just me?)
So before I have to pull out the box of Kleenex, I will sign off and launch into my incredibly long to-do list for the day. With just 7 days to go before our vacation starts, I am going to have to morph into the Energizer Bunny in order to get it all done.
Hopping away . . .
You will miss that car. Take pictures! What as I saying? Of course you will. Maybe a side by side of the old and new. Memories past and memories future. Together. Have a little introduction even. Seriously, I would do it. I think you will love the new car, very exciting.
I lease my cars and trade them out every 3 years. This is because I cannot chance being stuck on the side of the road with a car broken down and needing repairs. Sarah will be in the back seat. And it is almost impossible for me to get her into anything but the back right seat of a honda accord! Height of seat, lift, angle, leg room etc. so tow trucks are out and rentals are risky. In my case, I am actually ready to see them go because one area next to the trunk, above the rear tail light, gets scratched from my cramming her wheelchair in there time after time. I love a new, unblemished palette. Haha. (My mileage is unbelievably low, like 3000 a year, so honda is so thrilled that they could care less about the scratches)
Yay about the trip south. I am sure the kids are getting so big, it will be a wonderful vacation!!!
Leslie,
I believe an introduction between the two vehicles will be just what the occasion calls for. (In the middle of my teariness.)
I think Honda needs to give you a Special Customer Award for continuing to buy their cars so loyally. I bet it took you some time and trial and error to find a car that suited your specific needs so well. Glad you and Sarah found the perfect set of wheels.
And yes, 3000 miles a year IS unbelievably low. I think that might be a record!
We purchased our van when our daughter, who is almost 16, was about 6 weeks old! The kiddos think our van is ancient old but it still runs great so we will continue to enjoy it 🙂
Jo,
Good for you, keeping that 16-year old van in the family! It’s funny that you got it at the same time as you “got” your daughter. I guess you can say they grew up together. 🙂
We keep our cars as long as possible too! I am usually glad to be rid of them! Good luck seeing Sarah off to college. I’ve done it 3 times and it never gets easier. Even now it’s hard. My oldest daughter just got a teaching job in Florida and will be relocating from NY. I know we can visit but it still makes me sad, someday I plan to spend my winters there so now I’ll have a place to stay, at least until she’s sick of me!
Michele,
NY to FL is quite a change! Happily, that is a great place for you to go visit and winter in. Nice having a child in a sunny clime!
I’ve only had one car that I’ve regretted getting rid of – my little Mercedes Benz SLK 230. I traded it because I’d been rear-ended in it, and no longer felt it was safe. Plus, it was 12 years old and about to need a LOT of work. And work on those cars, no matter what the problem may be, is expen$ive. I got a fun, peppy, zippy replacement (Hyundai Veloster Turbo), but I still – every single day – miss that little SLK.
I typically buy a new (or new-to-me) car every 2-3 years, and I’ve had my Veloster almost four years, which is making me crazy. I’ve actually been looking at “new” cars, and Mike says there’s no reason NOT to buy one – but there’s also no reason TO buy one. So. I’m trying to learn contentment. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with the car, it has 48,000 miles on it, it has a lifetime powertrain warranty, it’s fun to drive, and it still looks (and smells!!!!) brand new. I need to get over myself, don’t I?
Both Mike and I are car crazy, and have two MGBs for fun driving, which have been around for YEARS. He, typically, drives his vehicles until the wheels fall off because as long as his “daily” gets him from Point A to Point B, he’s fine with it. I get bored. lol
Stefanie,
Yes, it’s funny how some people just love sticking with their old cars and some just love getting a new one every few years. Getting a new car just seems to be such a lot of work, I’d rather space out our purchases little. I must say though, that I am very much looking forward to driving this new vehicle. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anything that was very shiny. 🙂
Enjoy your fun MGB’s and good luck on finding a new car!
If it helps, my 6 y/o grandson names our cars and when I sold the Green Hornet, he cried daily wanting to know when I would get her back. That was 1.5 years ago and he still tells me he misses her. However, he finally decided the new to me car was Big Blue (no all blue super heroes) and gave her a hug and kiss before I left for work yesterday morning and he was headed to visit his Mom for two weeks … he was going to miss her. Yes, I received hugs and kisses, too! ??????
Guerrina,
How funny that your grandson names your cars and gives them a hug and a kiss. He sounds like a tender-hearted fella!
I always am sad when I get a new car and need to learn how everything works.
Cindy,
Thankfully it doesn’t usually take long for that new car to feel like it’s part of the family.
Almost 3 years ago we donated my Mercury Cougar to a school that fixes cars and then resells them. I had had my Cougar since 1998, but it was a 1999 model. Yes, I too shed some tears, and I said I wasn’t going to do that. Never have listened to myself.
Sharyn,
I love the words, “Never have listened to myself.” I’m glad I’m not the only one! Too funny. 🙂
I’m still driving the old 1996 Saturn we got when we first moved into our house! We do have a newer, 2015 vehicle that we use as our ‘main’ car, but the old Saturn I usually only drive around town or to work. We bought it when we got our house, we brought our son home from the hospital in it after he was born; we were sitting in it, stuck in traffic and listening to the radio when the 9-11 events happened and heard all about it while sitting there; so many memories connected to that car! It still runs fine, but it’s getting old and creaky and though I’d like to have a new car, I know I’ll feel sad getting rid of it.
Melissa,
A 20-year old car? That’s pretty old! You have certainly gotten your use out of it and has certainly ferried you and your family around faithfully. I imagine you will never forget those moments sitting in that car and listening to the 9-11 reports. Those are the things that remain with you forever.
Oh Becky, I ALWAYS get teary when I say good-bye to a car, so many memories and trips are connected, I feel like they are part of the family and I think my son feels the same way, he and I shared a Mazda 6 that he learned to drive in, took it to school, went places with friends and one Saturday, our lease was just about up, so my husband and I stopped by the Mazda dealer just to see what they were offering on a new Mazda, well we ended up trading inthe Mazda 6 that day and driving off the lot in a new Mazda 3, my son was so upset, he had wanted to say good-bye to that Mazda 6 so we actually drove to the lot later that day and he sat in it one last time…..
Dale,
How sweet to take your son back to the dealer to sit in his old car one last time. I love how you took your son’s feelings seriously instead of just brushing them off. A very fitting goodbye . . .
Thank you, he is like me, we have a very hard time with change and saying good-bye to old familiar things! I hope you guys have a great trip.
Dale, thank you! We are so looking forward to it.
This reminded me of a long ago memory. I was 5 years old and my dad was selling our big, old, rusty, clunky pale yellow 1970s (or 60s??) style van. When the man buying it came to pick it up, he discovered many, many scraggly dandilions tucked into the outside windshield and a crying little 5 year old! He wasn’t impressed but I’d picked them as flowers and climbed up the van to gently place them om the van as a memorial to say goodbye to the van.
Jenna,
I love that story about your dandelion tribute. Who cares what that buyer thought? You were saying goodbye in a loving, proper way to a beloved vehicle. I especially love that the van was yellow; great color for a car! (especially one festooned by dandelions.)
Glad you are getting another vehicle. Memories to make. Safe travels to Florida.
Thanks, Ann.
We are looking forward to our visit. I hope Jim is back on his way to health!
Oh yes, Bec, I hate saying by to an old vehicle…this must run in the family! They can be so familiar and comfortable, such a big part of your everyday life; a place you spend lots of time in when away from the comfort of
home. In the old days, I wonder if they felt sad over a broken down buggy? (at least they make a nice yard ornament, unlike an old van!)
Ruth,
I imagine those pioneer women must have gotten attached to certain covered wagons! 🙂 I’d never really thought about that before.
is Sarah not going to be able to have her car on campus?
Becky,
Actually I probably didn’t make that clear. Yes, she will have her car on campus; she will drive to college and we will drive a separate vehicle, get her settled in and leave. So actually we aren’t dropping her off in the truest sense of the word.
I was wondering the same thing. Question answered! We usually keep our vehicles for a long time, too. I traded my 11-year old Mazda 3 for a Hyundai Santa Fe three years ago. I loved the Mazda, but love the Santa Fe, too. It’s much easier to get in and out of (important for my middle-aged self) and it fits the whole family! Once the Santa Fe is paid for (soon!) my hubby will be in need of a new tow vehicle for our RV. The truck has over 100,000 miles on it, and is really towing at it’s highest capacity. It’s been a great vehicle for us. Have a fun and safe trip! Can’t wait to see pics!
Gayle,
Glad I was able to answer two questions in one fell swoop! 🙂
You are so right about how important it is for a car to be easy to get in and out of. That was one of my first criteria; I love for a vehicle to sit up high so I don’t have to moan too much getting in and out. And yes, I agree, Sarah’s haircut does make her look older!
PS. Sarah’s current hairstyle makes her look so grown up and sophisticated. It really suits her!
We have an Edge Limited too and you will love it! It’s a bit smaller than that van but you wont need all that space now. We had a van too (Ford Windstar) before this Edge and we also drove the wheels off of it. 😉 No, you’re not the only one who gets emotional over vehicle changes. I was a bit teary when we traded ours off. It held LOTS of memories. Especially the ones of all the traveling we did to get to basketball games. Our son played from 3rd grade all the way through college and then one year semi-pro in Dallas. In all those years, we only missed ONE college game. (We didn’t want to drive to Oklahoma for one game that he wouldn’t even play in due to an injury.) Many thousands of miles, tons of road trips and the best memories ever!!!
LeeAnne,
That is amazing that you made it to that many games. Wow! I can only imagine the memories and the miles over the years. Vehicles sort of become a part of the family, don’t they? ?
I’m so glad to hear you like your Edge. I’m looking forward to getting ours.