What a Car!!!

Today - January 8th, 2009 at 8:30 in the morning - my little white car drove her 200,000th mile.

Let me tell you a little bit about her.

The Fall of 2002 through the Spring of 2003 was one of the most trying seasons of our life.

On November 5th, 2002, I totalled my little Toyota pick-up truck. I loved that truck, it was a true workhorse. It weathered many golf-ball diving seasons, five years of college, long trips across country(multiple times from Florida to N. Idaho), the hot hot Summers of Florida, and the frigid Winters of Northern Idaho.

Later that same month, during a "Turkey Bowl" football game over Thanksgiving - playing on the frozen grass at the church in Boise - (and against my wife's wise council I might add) I blew out my knee, and had to have my ACL reconstructed.

While I was recovering from the surgery hobbling around on crutches (after surgery I had to go eight weeks non weight bearing) - both Sheri and Cade had some serious health problems that were unbelievably frightening for all of us.

One of the few bright spots that came out of this stressful chapter of our life was our acquisition of a little white 1991 Toyota Corolla with 84,000 miles on it for just over $2,000. It was intended to "temporarily" replace my truck until I could get a new one. Six years, three states, two countries, and 116,000 miles later that little white temporary replacement is still with us, and I just can't find any reason to get rid of her... As I've said probably a thousand times now... SHE JUST WON'T DIE.

Don't get me wrong, we've had our close calls... but through it all she just keeps on kicking.

In July of 2003 I changed jobs, and moved from Boise to Phoenix - I was there by myself for a while before Motorola decided to close that office and move us to Chicago. I thought for sure that those 117 degree summer days would kill that car - or at least kill her A/C... but nope - during her Phoenix days she blew cold cold A/C, and only needed new tires.

In November of 2003, the car and I moved to Chicago - Sheri and the kids stayed behind in Idaho while our house in Chicago was being built. I thought for sure that first Winter with temperatures WAY below zero would kill her, but nope - and her heater blew hot as could be and kept me nice and comfy. If not the cold weather, for sure the 95 mile round trip commute each day would do her in right? Nope - she took me there and back every day for two and a half years, only requiring oil changes, a new thermostat, and a muffler repair... simply amazing.

November of 2005 I landed the new job in Nogales Mexico. Once again, I moved on ahead of the family so the kids could finish school and we could get our housing in AZ squared away. I traveled back and forth from Arizona to Chicago every few weeks until the family could join me. Once we found our house in Sahuarita, I saddled that little car with an even bigger challenge that I thought for sure would kill her. She would have to carry me almost 70 miles miles each way down across the border into Mexico and endure the all the CRAZY driving, potholes, stray animals, and vandals one encounters on that side of the border. Even that 140 mile/day commute and all that craziness that came along with it didn't do her in.

Now, I have an easy 20 mile commute all on nice American roads through Tucson. With this alleviated workload, I'm worried that my little car might feel like she's out to pasture. Although, who knows - maybe with a lighter load she can even keep this up for another 100K.

Whenever she decides her time is right - I won't curse her at all... I might shed a few tears (ala - Marley and Me), but that $2000 invested in her way back in 2003 has been paid back a hundred times over.

On this special occasion, I think I'll treat her to a nice oil change, a car wash, and a vacuum. (I think the last time she was washed was at a cub scout car wash, and I remember that when they rinsed the soap off - the water rolled down the parking lot white because a lot of her paint washed off with the soap...)

Well Done Little White Car! Well Done Indeed! And Congratulations!