Goodbye doesn’t mean forever

I’m not really a materialistic person, but I am sentimental.  I try to be realistic.

This summer my wife needs to transport not only our two boys, but also at least one of their friends.  All 3 or 4 of them, by law, require booster seats with shoulder belts until they are 8 years old.

When we bought our 2000 Ford Taurus station wagon with it’s rear-facing 3rd row seat right before H. was born in 2001, we thought we would have the law covered for years to come…because in 2001 kids were allowed to stop using their booster seats at age 4 or so.

So believing all would be well, in 2002 I bought what can only be described as my dream car, a 1996 Lincoln Town Car, Cartier edition.

We just didn’t anticipate the law change, especially the part about shoulder belts being required.  Somebody’s in bed with the newer car dealers I think.  So unfortunately we need a minivan.  Realistically speaking, my car needs to be the trade.  The station wagon is 4 years newer and has 180,000 fewer miles:

Why do I care that I’m trading away this car?  To put it simply…it is a complete masterpiece.  The exterior design is truly a thing of beauty.  The 26+ MPG on the highway is pretty good for a 4,400 pound vehicle that is one of the safest on the road, even at 12 years old.

I’ll miss this car!  And “one day” I’ll have another one, even if it means completely refinishing one at great expense.  How horribly worldly does that make me sound?  I feel bad that I care about “stuff” this much.

Don’t hang on.  Nothing lasts forever but the Earth and sky.  It slips away.  And all your money won’t another minute buy…

If my house burned to the ground while I was at work today, the thing I would be most upset about was that all my fish and my cat died.  I strive to be realistic and just know that things change, things wear out, it’s all dust in the wind.  But I’m falling short because I’m quite sad to see my car leave.

Spacious interior.

Goodbye car

Goodbye rear seat vanity mirrors

Goodbye leather seats and Cartier logo

Definitely the best $7,800 (minus trade-in) $5,665 I ever spent.

GOODBYE.