Are you ready for another round of Alphabe Thursday? Let's go!
This past week I said goodbye to my 97 Misubishi Galant that I drove for the past almost 11 years. Needless to say, I went through quite a lot with this car including a large part of undergrad, student teaching, planning a wedding, my first and second teaching jobs, and graduate school. I lived in four different states and spend countless hours traveling to and from school and work and visiting family and friends.
I never thought that I would get sentimental about a car, but it was really hard cleaning it out, knowing that I was driving it for the last time, and leaving it at the dealership. It served me quite well for many years and certainly doesn't own me anything. While it caused me a lot more stress the past six months than I care to admit, I was still sad to see it go.
It feels like I've finished a chapter in my life and am starting the next one with my (new to me) 2011 Toyota RAV4. Today I'm sharing some pictures of the Misubishi through the last decade as well as a little peak at the new RAV.
Probably the summer of 2003
I think that I took this picture not long after I got the car, but I'm not positive.
August 2004
Driving from Valparaiso University to Chicago with Jake who took this picture
This was back before the days of awesome smartphone cameras and apps like Instagram when everyone didn't have a billion pictures that look exactly like this. At the time, I thought that it was awesome.
Summer 2005
Waxing cars by hand with Jake in his parent's driveway
August 2007
Driving from House on the Rock to Iowa City. And no, I did not take this picture of myself. I know that it kind of looks like I did. Jake and I took this little trip just a couple weeks after we moved to Iowa City from Chicago, and my caption for this photo on Facebook was: "Notice how I'm not screaming at the other drivers? That's because I'm not driving in Chicago!"
August 1, 2010
A nerd moment.
April 2012
Just after I hit 150,000, which was the last big milestone number that I had with the car.
June 2014
The final days.
June 2014
First days with the RAV4.
Check out what the other Alphabe Thursday participants posted for the letter E this week right here!
Good luck in your new era...loving the red!!
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way when I got rid of my mini van (one of my first cars)! Boy had we been through a lot together!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the 123456 shot :)
I grow attached to things too. I think they become so familiar and a part of your life; especially if they have gone through so much with you.
ReplyDeleteBlessings dear. Catherine
These pics remind me of the last car I had for a loooong time. It was a 1989 honda accord, obviously I got it used because I wasn't driving when it was made. I'm old but not that old lol. When I finally donated it to charity, it had so many parking stickers on it...4 years of undergrad, 4 years of grad school, I think 4 or 5 from different apartment buildings...none of them ever came off even though I tried. I had that car while living in 4 different states too. It went through 2 or 3 accidents. One of the back doors wouldn't open from the inside anymore after one of them, and I had to get out and open the door like a chauffeur if someone was sitting in the back seat. Oh good times. :D
ReplyDeleteLove the sporty little Rav4!! And I love your new photo banner. I've RARELY seen water that calm!!
ReplyDeleteThe new car looks great! I can understand missing the old, though. I had a 1991 Toyota Tercel that had been in my family since it was new. A couple years ago I had to sell it, but it went to a mechanic who's a friend of the family and he's still driving it on occasion! I miss it from time to time, even though it was old and broken down. I hope you make some great new memories with the Rav4!
ReplyDeleteI like the shiny red upgrade though! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteHopefully your car will help another young driver for many a year. The odometer pics are great! Pretty red RAV! {:-D
ReplyDeleteOoh - fancy new red car! Me likey!
ReplyDeleteGreat way to pay tribute to your old car. Happy trails in your new one♪ http://lauriekazmierczak.com/embossed/
ReplyDeleteI've never had a car for that long, not even close, but I still have fond memories of my first one. It was a silver Ford Focus that lived its former life as a rental car. It was a good little vehicle, and I was sad to leave it for a year when I went off to college. (I think it was extra to park your car on campus? I can't remember.) Anyway, I left the car for my younger sister to drive and what did she do? She hit a deer. She was fine, but it caused like $6K worth of damage so it was cheaper to just get a different car. Bah! My poor baby.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your new car. That is such a fancy red car!
ReplyDeleteI also get somehow attached to things like a car... Hah! Glad to see that I am not the only one. ;)
ReplyDeleteI understand. I felt the same way when I let my 2000 Mustang go. My husband had died and his Ford Escape was more practical for grocery shopping and hauling kitty litter. I always joked that God never intended for anyone with a Mustang to grocery shop because of the trunk size. Enjoy your new car!
ReplyDeleteI really understand what you mean.
ReplyDeleteIt's so exceptionally difficult for eras to end! Even when a new one is beginning.
I hope you have lots of fun in that new red beauty!
This was an excellent post. I almost got teary eyed reading it!
Thanks for linking.
A++++