*sniff, sniff* It was the end of an era for the Brehm family yesterday. We said goodbye to this ol’ beaut of a car. She was a gem. For nearly a decade, the little two door Acura was a staple in our lives. How can a car become such an important part of your life?
It was the first car the hubs purchased on his own. In fact, when we married and I relocated to Austin, it was our only car.
Gasp!
We shared a car. Every day, I would drop the mr. off in North Austin and I would drive into downtown. And do the reverse after work to get us home. It wasn’t until we moved back to Nebraska that we purchased a second vehicle. There are still days today that I miss those drives to work, together. That car taught me that time together is valuable, even if just on a morning commute.
Prior to walking down the aisle, I had a very memorable {or I suppose, memorable for the Mr. and his bestie, since I was incoherent for most of the drive time} evening in the Acura. Which led to the hubs scrubbing out every nook and cranny in the backseat and airing out the car for the next two weeks. That car taught me that two bottles of Champagne is a little excessive. A little.
On one trip back to Austin from up north, we blew a tire on the expressway outside of Dallas. We ended up bunking with my Aunt and Uncle unexpectedly for a few days. That car taught me that life’s little detours are not always taking us down the wrong road. Just a different road than we planned on taking.
The hubs and I spent countless hours rocking some serious car-aoke in the car. We had some absolutely incredible car dances. And gathered stares from on-lookers at our silly adventures. That car solidified my belief that you just have to have fun. You have to. There’s no reason not to. Especially when the music is rockin’.
Mr. Brehm and the car spent quite a lot of time together. When we moved into Omaha, he commuted to Lincoln daily and then, in the evenings to Creighton for his MBA classes. That car taught us that hard work and determination take a lot of hard work and determination.
The car often needed repairs. But that was okay because we paid it off and held onto it for a good bit of time before relinquishing it after almost a decade. With 169,000 miles, and a transmission that was a ticking timebomb, it was time to find a more reliable solution. But ultimately, that car taught me that there’s something to be said for knowing what you have. And to sticking with things instead of jumping to the next best thing without real thought or reasoning.
It was my first car with a sunroof. And Adam would prefer that if it is not raining or snowing, a sunroof is open. And the windows are down. That car taught me to let the wind blow my hair and to sit back and enjoy the ride. Every day. And additionally, that as long as you have leather inside, the occasional rainstorm in an open sunroof is easily fixed with a few towels.
Barrett loved the car. It was daddy’s fancy car. Even when it felt nowhere near fancy to us. That car taught me that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And that it’s all about the lens that you view life through.
The car lost its side mirror after being bent backwards on the side of a garbage can. And it had scrapes on the side. But we kept driving it because it was the economical choice for our family. And as long as it was dependable, it was all we really needed. That car taught me that it really doesn’t matter what others think of your material possessions. And that you’ve got to take care of you. And at the end of the day, things are just things.
Who knew that car held so much wisdom? So many memories in a box with four wheels. From dating, to marriage, to three babes… it became a member of the family. And taught us more than we bargained for.
Farewell, old friend. Thanks for the ride… or more appropriately, rides. You were good while you lasted. And though the hubs still loved you the same as the day you became his, I was just happy we parted ways before you had to be hauled away.
Hello to a newer, bigger version of you. Hopefully we learn just as much from her as we did from you.
