A New Honda

This post was written by Quijote 

Seventeen years ago, I had to drive the old Volvo station wagon I'd been using to back to trade in for what my parents assured me was a good deal. In my head, I must admit I was a bit perturbed, because how can one fit a double bass into a sedan? I already had been through that with my grandma's Nissan in high school. A station wagon is so much more useful even if I had been labeled the "soccer mom" of the KU dorms. It's still weird to me to think back that as a Math and Econ major I was more concerned at 20 with getting my bass and amp to and from gigs easily then I was with econometrics and optimization problem. But my parents insisted, and I really couldn't find any fault with the privilege of getting a new car. My dad was usually (always...) right about these things too (though as any good child I refused to admit it for a good ten years).

Over 17 years I moved from L, KS, to D, TX, and back to L, KS, to M, TN, and then to C and A, TX. I got my future wife and I lost on dates to the D Opera in that car. I took Miss E home from Lawrence hospital in that car. I drove through a MTN ice storm to help safely bring Mr E into the world as well. It really only started to have problems after a trip to San Antonio when a truck tire blew out in front of us and we couldn't avoid running over a large piece of tire. We still made it to San Antonio and back, everyone safe and healthy. Even then, it was years before I finally faced the inevitable and repair costs began to outweigh just buying a new car.

So tomorrow morning, I go to trade in my 17 year old Honda Accord. We have not yet told Ms E, because she very often has reminded how she will get it when she's 16 and wants to paint it pink. Or purple. Or whichever color has caught her fancy that month. I am sure her affection will change quite quickly to the new car.

So to my parents, thank you for the 17 wonderful and safe years. To my wife, thank you for letting me drive this poor vehicle into the ground for sentimental (rather than cheapskate, although that's part of it) purposes. And to the old silver car, thanks for getting me from point A to point B. May the new car fill your considerably large tires. (and for those musicians wondering: yes, you can fit an amp and a double bass into a 2003 Honda Accord, and once I figured this out I couldn't help but smile each time I was able to get it in and back out with ease).

 

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That post was written by my husband, before going to the dealership. The best deal was given to us by a dealership a few towns over, so he made the drive this morning. He came back around noon, ready to surprise the kids. He meant to surprise me, too. But last night he decided to tell me so I could help with the surprise. The kids didn't guess correctly (Q gave them a clue or two) until the very last moment, and though Miss E did in fact feel a little sad to let go of our old car, she was so happy about the new one that I think it very much felt to her that the trade in was worth it. 

 

The new Honda is a CRV, and it is just perfect for the needs of a little family! So far, we're all very much in love with it. Needs a name, maybe. Though in 20 years when we have to trade in again that might make things difficult...

 

 

We took it for a quick drive around town and got ourselves some Starbucks! The only other two times we've allowed ourselves the exposure was for my birthday, and then for the traditional Christmas lights drive. It was fun, and the kids were wanting to go on a trip! haha! We will, in a few days.