Good bye Old Friend

We have 2 say good bye to our 2000 Chevy Venture van. It is a heart breaking experience. We have had this van since 2001. This van has seen us through so many experiences. We bought Gracie, our youngest home from the hospital in this van. We carried Mikaela and Gracie to their first days of kindergartner in this van. Maddie and Mikaela to their first day of junior high and Maddie's first day of high school. It carried Mikaela to the hospital when her sister pulled her off her father's truck and she broke her elbow. It carried us to Raleigh for an ultrasound to find out Gracie was a girl. It has taken us on several trips to Mexico- including one trip where we brought 3 puppies with us and came back with 7 birds. It has carried us to Richmond, when I won tickets for the Nascar race and a hotel stay. Basically that was the honeymoon Raul and I never had 13 years later. It has carried us to summers on the beach, visiting family in Roanoke, Va. We even have fed wild animals from this van. And no I am not talking about my children. It has been a taxi-taking my children from soccer practice, swim practice, plays, shopping, and parties and play dates with friends. It has seen us through several ice and snow storms. Many trips to the museums, a lot of Halloweens in the park.

It is hard saying good bye to what you feel like is a part of your family. Also it is hard to say goodbye to the extra money it afforded us because it was paid for. Now we have a payment to look forward. That is not something I look forward.

How many people feel like their vehicles become a part of them. Yesterday I was in the Walmart parking lot and saw a van that looked like mine and I started getting teary eyes. I will miss you my dear friend. Now on to a new adventure with another vehicle.

Today we are going to look at a Kia Sorento( yea like the cheese). Keep your fingers crossed that this will happen because we really need a car that is reliable and safe.

The venture has been the shop for 3 weeks now. What we thought would be $2500 in repairs has now turned into $3000 for parts and there is no telling how much in labor. This is one of the consequences for putting cheap oil as a substitute for the high mileage. Which the mechanic told my husband to put the high mileage in and I reminded him every time he changed the oil- which he thought he could save a few bucks and use the cheap kind. Guess we aren't saving a few bucks now. LOL