i get attached to vehicles. most of you know that. technically, the old girl isn't even mine. But ive never been so attached to a car before. i remember following brooks (in my jeep) in the van to the docks in san diego when we were moving here. i was worried about the van-- would it make the long trip on the barge OK? would she be lonely? did she know we'd see her on the other end? and since then, 4 and 1/2 years later, look whats happened...
Her family has expanded. She is now a grandma. She has 251,000 miles under her belt and is looking around for the next party. So what if she overheats and we can only REALLY cruise around comfortably at night when turning on the heat to full blast doesnt make naia cry?
This van has been everywhere. She's done lots of favors in the form of moving people from place to plcae-- think about it: how many people do you know with a van this big WILLING to help you move your couch?
she has been reborn in maui. she's been up the mountain and back, gone on several camping trips, and been around for a cruise whenever we needed her. Brooks likes to think that she did her life's work on the east coast, dealing with the daily grind in the harsh conditions. in her midlife, she was in san diego, not easy of course, but at least she wasn't cold. then to maui where we have babied her and treated her as a weathered and valuable elder, as she deserves. We are happy to let her finish her time on a tropical island in the pacific. We hope to find a really nice raison ranch for her (aka someone who will baby her like we have) and sincerely hope she will understand.
Her nicknames (since ive known her at least):
the purple people eater
the scooby doo time machine
the california raison
the van
i remember before i met celia, brooks' sister, he told me that he was talking to her on the phone about me, his new girlfriend, and she asked what i thought of his van. i think he said she laughed when he told her i loved it.
i don't know if it was the hula girl figurine with the plastic patriots helmet whose grass skirt had disintigrated with time or the chicken stuck to the window or the fact that it was a weird dude with long hair in purple van, but i was in love pretty much immediately. And that love has only grown. She will remembered and she will be missed.
anyway, here's a little snippet of a cruise, today, going to our friend's house =).
4 comments:
That was beautiful, Whit. My fondest memory of the girl was listening to Brian Reagan and My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard on the way to Joshua Tree.
Godspeed purple lady.
E.....mine too. That trip in the old girl was so much fun. Whit, I'm sorry you have to say goodbye to another....at least I didn't wreck this one!!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful tribute to a dear old friend.
There's a clone waiting in the Langsford Street lot, so you won't have to miss her for too long. It's the last of the line, though, with Greg starting in on SUVs. She really wants you and Brooks to adopt her; I know you'll love her as much as the dear friend you're leaving behind.
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