Goodbye old Friend

In the summer of 2009 I bought a car.  It was the 6th car I had owned in my life.  It was my second Mazda. It was brand spanking new and I loved it.

On August 6, 2009 I wrote on my blog:
Dear New Car,

I love you. I love you in indescribable and pathetic ways. I am so glad I bought you. Your navigation has really come in handy and your sunroof has made driving so enjoyable. Thank you for bringing love into my life!

XO,
Obsessed with my new car


My feelings never changed, but my life did.  You see... I am a smaller person.  Coming in at a comfortable 5'3'' I can basically fit anywhere I need to, and no, my feet don't hit the floor if I scoot all the way back on our couch.  I deal.
Benjamin however, well he is quite the opposite.  He is 6'3'' and I am pretty sure his feet hit the floor no matter where he sits (even at counters).

Ben was never super comfortable in my car, although he took VERY good care of it.  It sat low and let's be honest, a little car isn't the most roomy ride for a tall man. But he dealt and kept the complaining to a minimum.  Except of course when we drove on the freeway and we couldn't hear each other cause the road noise in those small cars isn't ideal.  It was then when we looked at each other and thought (cause we couldn't talk), MAN we need a bigger car.

Then we got a pup.  He fit in the little Mazda perfectly for a few months.  I would help him in the back and we would cruise all over town together.  He loved it.  Eventually he was tall enough to see out the window and soon discovered the joy of the wind blowing in his face.  But inevitably even he outgrew the little car.

It had to happen.  As much as I loved my little car, we needed room, we needed a backseat that wasn't full of our adorable puppy and we decided it was time to get rid of my little car friend.

We started looking in May of 2010.  We looked at everything and by everything, I mean everything.  If there is one place I hate it's car dealerships, but we went looking at SUV after SUV.  We fell into a groove.  I wouldn't say a word to the sales man, because they usually creep me out, and Ben would do all the talking and shoot me the "YEAH, Uh huh" look every once and a while.  (No offense to car salesmen really, but you know what I mean.)

We gave up and started and gave up again.  It seemed that we would always "want" a new car, but never really get one.  We put the Mazda on craigslist. No one called.

Finally, I took a trip to Utah to see my family.  As I sat at my parents computer one day I wondered what car prices were here. "Wouldn't that be crazy" I thought to myself, "If I found the perfect car and drove it home instead of flying?"  I pulled up good old KSL, browsed and instantaneously let out a "HOLY CRAP!" Car prices seemed lower, I called Ben and the search was on.

I fit car searching in between friends and family.  I drove cars to Ashley and Casey's and had Casey do a proper "man" inspection while Ashley and I decided if the car "looked" like me.  I drove, we thought and finally BOUGHT!  Craziness, I know - but this is just how we roll.

I drove our newly acquired Honda Pilot back to Washington.  Now we had three cars.  Unfortunately, the Mazda really had to go this time.  We kept our ad on craigslist and added an adorable vinyl FOR SALE sticker to the windows.

We waited one week and one man called.  Ben took the car to him, they talked and he bought.  Ben came home told me it was sealed by a handshake and in two days the car would be his.  I was happy, grateful that we didn't have to pay for this extra car, but sad that my favorite little car would be gone for good.  I drove it as much as I could.  I opened  the sunroof and blared the Bose stereo.  I used the navigation when I knew where I was going and I sat and sat and almost wanted to refuse to give it up.

But I didn't.  He took the car and now we are 2 drivers and 2 cars.  I love the Pilot, but I will miss my Mazda.  Goodbye old friend.  You're next owner is one lucky person!