The Unexpected Gift

The Unexpected Gift

Today I said goodbye to the car I have driven for the last five years. I’ve never been sentimental over an inanimate object. I had no idea however, when I bought this car five years ago, the gift it would be.

I took delivery at the end of 2020 as the world was starting to come out of Covid. My motivation was to find an adventure (100% electric) that did not include lots of people. Of course, two months later I did the “Mulder” thing and talked to my dad into driving it to Florida with me. What a great trip!

Then in January 2023, I was diagnosed with high risk multiple myeloma. I didn’t know how debilitating the treatment would be, long I would be able to drive myself, how long I was going to live. All these seem overdramatic now. But they were my reality back then.

When treatment started in March 2023, I choose to do 99% of them alone. At the time I wanted to be able to work during treatment. As I look back, however, I have realize that it was really the 1 hour drive each way I wanted to do alone. At a time when everything was chaotic that two hours twice a week for a year was peaceful.

For sure, I talked on the phone, listened to books, and worried. But my over all feeling in this little read car was comfort. Marc Cohn in his song Silver Thunderbird says it best, “Down the road in the rain and snow. The man and his machine would go. Oh, the secrets that old car would know…” I don’t know if I have any secrets, but there was a lot of thinking done in this car.

And now it is time to move on. The crisis of my health has died. Jeri and I have a new adventure that does not involve lots of people -RVing. And this little red car needs more love and attention than I can give it. I have driven this car almost every day I could touch it. Sitting in a barn waiting for the next sunny day, just does not seem right.

So, today I said goodbye. For sure, I was a bit sad with significant cold feet. I am also excited about the future adventures with our new 4 wheel buddy. But mostly I am a lot appreciative of the last 5 years and This Unexpected Gift.

SHINE!
The Road Rider