Ringing in the 70th year

70 is 11 months away.  On the first day of the 12 months leading up to my 70th, I spent my birthday in Amsterdam after a river cruise. It was a great day to kick off what I hope will be a year of monthly celebrations. I was surprised by a sparkler candle in my chocolate mousse.

To hail the second month of my 70th year, I decided to replace the Toyota RAV4 that I've driven for 17 years.  It was difficult to say good-bye to the vehicle that shared so many memories with my sons and me.  I’d called her “the old girl” for the last few years, although she didn't act like a senior citizen.

Still going strong, she only had 126,000 miles on her and was very healthy. Before they drove her away at Arlington Toyota, where I traded her in, I lay my hands on her and prayed for the new owners, and for her good health and continued longevity.  After that, several staff came by to admire her many attributes including a rare third row of seats, V-6 engine, low mileage, and quick acceleration.

I keep cars for a long time. I take good care of them, don't like car payments, and respect them. The Ford Taurus wagon that saw our family through many vacations and a move to Texas only lasted 10 years. By the end of its days, my boys were embarrassed by the "suburban assault vehicle" and I had to drop them off a block away when they needed a ride to school. I was lucky to get as many years as I did out of that one and was not sad to see it go.

My new car is also a RAV4. If I keep her as long as I did the last one, she will be my last car purchase. After six hours at the dealership negotiating, looking at various vehicles, dealing with paperwork, and reviewing options, I made my decision and I’m not looking back. I think that may be the theme of the next decade. I'm going to make decisions carefully, then respect them and not second guess myself.

Inside Annabelle with the old girl in the background

Annabelle is a hybrid. Not fancy, she has the modern options new cars have that they didn’t 17 years ago, such as CarPlay and a backup camera. These are important in Florida, where there are many aging drivers who don't have quick reflexes, stop at stop signs, or understand how to maneuver a roundabout.

Annabelle and me

My decision to replace the old girl with a new car was made when I nearly missed seeing an elderly woman shuffling in my blind spot in the Winn Dixie parking lot.  Annabelle and her backup camera wouldn’t have missed her.

I avoided taking long car trips because the old girl was too aged to be trusted.  She was hanging in there, but I hadn’t driven her far from home recently. Annabelle gives me freedom to travel and say yes to spontaneous adventures.

As I drove Annabelle home from Jacksonville, I thought of some of the experiences I'd shared with the old girl:

• She carried Mom on her last visit to DeNucci's for an ice cream cone.

• She carried family members to and from Mom's memorial service where the youngest fell asleep in her back seat.

• She carried three family dogs, who are now asking Mom for treats in heaven, for occasional trips to DeNucci's for “pup cups.”

• She carried my current dog, Leah, from her adoption at Nassau County Humane Society to her new home, and on many subsequent trips for "pup cups."

• Recently, she safely transported three of my grandchildren and their parents when they visited us. She still had graham cracker crumbs on the floor when I traded her in.

The old girl's early years in Virginia were tough.

Dallas, the first dog to coat the old girl's backseats in mud.

Dudley and Mia, the next dogs the old girl carried.

Mom with her DeNucci's cone in the old girl's front seat

Grandson, in the back seat of the old girl, on the way home from Mom's memorial service

When you have a car for so long, it becomes a part of your family. You know its noises and how fast you’ll be able to accelerate in traffic. And you have many fond memories of places you traveled with her, and people she served.

Now that I have a new car, I’ll be parking far from where she'll be dinged and backed into by clueless drivers. In Florida, that happens often.

The next ten months will be filled with memories and Annabelle will be right there with me.

______________________

Thanks to:

• The staff at Arlington Toyota for their advice and patience.

• Steve, for his wise counsel.

• Jen, for telling me to call Steve.

• My sister, Ruth, for her love, encouragement, and reminding me to do things that bring me joy.

• Deb, for walking Leah (twice) while I was negotiating my purchase.

• Leah, for her enthusiasm over being my first passenger.

  
  

Leah on her first ride in Annabelle