A Sad, Sad, Sad Day

Dear Nellie,

I hope you know that when I kissed you goodbye today I did so with a tear in my heart, even though there was not one on my cheek.  I cried all those out yesterday when I found out I was going to have to let you go.  You've been my best friend for a long time, and I'll miss you terribly. Oh, the fun we had together!  Remember the day you were first new and we went to the Sky View soccer game to show you to my friends Jenny, Becky, and Kristy? They've all grown up now and have families and children of their own, but last time I saw Kristy she asked about you.  Remember how cool it was to finally park in the high school parking lot? That was the first place I locked your keys inside you --definitely not the last place :)  Remember when I drove you to my High School graduation? The first of three graduation ceremonies you saw me through.  And oh, the first day of college when you got to stay and play with all the other cars in the parking lot? That was pretty great. remember the time we went with Jill on a trip to San Francisco on a whim to see the Yankees play? Lol, and remember how your sun visor decided to fall off on the way there?  And I know some people think we were lost in SanFran, especially when we ended up on the other side of the bay at the naval base, but I know you really knew where we were the whole time.  And we went to Boise and Reno so many times to watch our Aggies play, those were the best!  Remember the trip to New Mexico?! Our treats spilled on the pavement of the gas station after we stopped to feed you dinner, and that crazy lady tried to help us? Remember how at that same gas station in the middle of nowhere southeast UT I left your keys locked inside you again on the way home?  That turned into a long night...  Remember when you drove me to the temple for the first time for myself?  I do.

Then there was the day we left for our longest journey. You probably remembered that I was crying and scared as we left our home for New York. I don't think you could have carried one more single thing for me and Heidi. We had you packed pretty full, and you carried it all without one single complaint. It was a long drive, but my GOODness we had some amazing memories on that trip.  Remember ALL that corn in Nebraska? Remember Iowa and that crazy driver in Pennsylvania? Remember crossing the bridge into Manhattan, our favorite city in the world? Remember that time we ran a stop sign to go the wrong way on a one way street, then ended up lost in queens? Remember how hysterically we were laughing and hoping we didn't die?!  And how everyone was so shocked to see your license plates from Utah? You were a first for them, that's for sure.  Remember the trip home with Danielle? You had an unplanned stop for us in the middle of nowhere Iowa, but it turned into a comical story, so it was ok in the end.  We had a pretty good month in Utah at home before we set out for our next destination, Orange County California. I remember how much you liked it there in the warm sunshine, and you even had your own garage! Pretty fancy!  Remember the amazing drive up the Pacific Coast Highway, our favorite road in the whole country?  Words can't describe how great that was. I'm glad you were there to share it with me.  Then, you brought me to Seattle. I know you remember Seattle and all the fun we had there. Remember how much fun it was living so close to Pike Place Market and the ferries? Remember how I told you all about the new friends I was making, and how I thought I was falling in love? Remember when my first kiss with him was right next to you?

Remember how Heidi came up to drive with us back to UT? It's a good thing she was there that time too, because there sure were a lot of tears on that trip too.  Hysterical even perhaps, but you never minded, you just were quietly always there.  After that I you got to have a vacation in Utah for a while with Aunt Heidi and Uncle Cody while I went back to Manhattan. I wanted to bring you, but I didn't want you to get hurt on those crazy roads, and I know you'd feel bad if I spent so much money to leave you parked there while I was at work. Besides, you took good care of Cody and Heidi, they needed someone like you to watch out for them while they were on the road.  And I came back to you. I was so glad to see you again, I remember we just drove up the canyon for a while together!  Then we headed back to the Pacific Northwest where we made our home.  I know you liked it here as much as I do.  You had a pretty great little car port to protect you from the rain. And remember the time it snowed and everyone was amazed that you and I made it up the hill to work together in all that ice with cars all off the side of the roads?  I never had any doubt that we'd make it. We always have, we showed them! Silly Seattle drivers anyway. I know you were a little sad when we had to give up your Utah license plates for the Washington ones, but after I assured you I wouldn't become the typical terrible crazy WA driver everyone else with those plates had, you were ok.  Besides, I saved your Utah ones in my closet, so they were never really gone. Remember the time I drove you from our house in Seattle to Kristy's house in Idaho then to Mom and Dad's in Utah and your tire was making that awful noise the whole way, then we found out that the ball joint was completely shredded?  But we still made it the whole way!! The mechanics were surprised, but  not me! You always came through.

But there was more than all that. You've been with me for so long, I can't begin to type all the memories we've had. But I treasure every one of them.  You held me as I laughed with joy and screamed in frustration. You held me when I had my breakdown the weekend after my best friend's dad died. All I needed to do was cry that day in the parking lot, and you let me lean my forehead on the steering wheel and do just that.  You were my escape when I needed to get away. We'd just go; through town, up the canyon, to the beach, where ever, just you and me.  We had eleven years of amazing memories. Eleven years, can yo believe it?!  Why do all good things have to come to an end? I'm not sure, but I know that they must.  So you go your way to car-heaven, and think of me often as I will think of you. You've been a great friend and a great companion, and you will not be forgotten. It broke my heart to even think of having to leave you at that service center, but I know you'll be happy, and you've lived a long and full life.  So with that kiss goodbye on your door frame I left you. If you would have been alive I know you would have been confused and hurt, but I trust that you are in a better place now. After all, if dogs go to heaven, I'm sure cars do to!

Your Friend, with much love,
Toni