Don had his Ford truck since 1994. That is a very long time. It has been driven almost two hundred thousand miles, as Don drove it from Socal to Norcal for years, before moving permanently to Norcal in 2004. He then continued to drive it once a month to work at UCLA for quite some time. In the very beginning of our relationship, we packed up the truck for a weekend of camping in Sequoia National Park. I remember the hours long drive in that sturdy ole thing. Later on, there were a few times I drove it to work, always a bit frustrated at the seat that would suddenly slide back while I drove down the freeway, unable to hit the breaks or gas! But she was a 5 speed and I did enjoy shifting those gears, when the seat was in place!
Eventually, we got a new (ish) SUV, which I drove and Don took over my Honda. And the old Ford sat in the driveway. About six years later, I bought a new SUV, Don took over the old SUV and the old truck sat in the driveway.
Occasionally Don used it for compost runs or to pick up items, like the play structure that the girls used for years or to pick up a new water heater. But mostly, the old truck sat in the driveway. A few times a year, someone would ring the bell and ask Don to sell it. He thought about. The truck continued to sit there. Over time, it became fodder for the family. It barely ran and then one day, he tried to drive it and the wheels caught fire. Our friend came and saved the day (or truck) and then it sat in the driveway for several years more. Until.....
Amara got her drivers license this summer and Don, at long last, bought himself a new car. An electric car, perfect for commuting and then after so many years of sitting on the the driveway, the old truck got picked up and taken to the junk yard. And after all those year, of teasing about Don's old truck, I actually shed a tear when the tow truck hooked it up and drove away. It was bittersweet to say goodbye to Don's old truck. It was an eyesore for sure. We teased and joked about it for years. But it was a part of our family history and while we were glad to see it go, it was a bit sad too.
Goodby Ole Truck.
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