Fair thee well, Madam

Posted on | Saturday, April 2, 2011 | 2 Comments

I name my cars. Likewise I also tend to name my laptops, and occasionally my toasters. But my cars always are given a name.

My Honda's name is Madam. For almost a year she didn't have a name, but Madam suits her perfectly. She an older car, she doesn't always work like she should. She has a temper and isn't afraid to show it. She also has her moments of insecurity (losing your A/C will do that) and she's been put through the ringer more than I'd care to admit as her owner. She's reliable, if not a bit rough, and although her outward appearance maybe be a bit haggard I truly love her.

Madam has been with me since I reached adulthood. She is in essence the only car I have ever truly owned. She's seen me through cross country moves, marriage (and a divorce), being pregnant, having a baby, and going to college. I've cried into her steering wheel when times were hard. It was while I was driving in this car that I came to the realization that I was a Christian. So much has happened in my life with this car, I feel like she's family. Like some key element in my life that bookmarks my entering the real world and surviving it.

Sadly, Madam isn't what she was when I bought her almost a decade ago. And the cost to make her the car she deserves to be is more than what she is worth (at least monetarily speaking). With a big move looming this summer and very life-altering changes following, the question arose if Madam could survive such a journey.

Truthfully, she can't. And it's silly of me to think that she can. Which meant that it was time to let Madam go and to find a new car that can drive me into this new chapter of my life. So today we went and traded in Madam for a new(er) car and let my darling Honda go to greener pastures.

It's strange how emotional it is, getting rid of your first car. Or maybe it's just me. I feel so emotionally tied to my vehicle, it's a testament to everything I've done since I reached the age of 18. I've done a lot. Far more than I thought I would. And although friends and living spaces have changed, my car didn't. Buying a new one was almost a surreal experience. It's like severing who I was with who I am in the most tangible way possible.

One benefit to all of this though (aside from owning a car that has functioning A/C and a muffler) is that I truly love the car I have as of today. It doesn't have a name yet, but it fits me. It's a car I can take four kids to soccer practice in, a car for VBS and for house projects. It's fancier, comfier, and most certainly bigger. I have gotten mixed responses from others as to the kind of car they think it is -- I have heard "old lady car", "undercover cop car" and "ghetto car" in the past 10 hours -- but when I look at it I don't see that. I see my car.

Mine. And it is absolutely perfect for me.

The name 'Buelah' came to mind as I was driving it home and I could almost hear the engine say, "If you even try calling me that I will break down in Tupelo Mississippi, so help me Chrysler."

Well, Madam took almost a year to name. I think we have time.

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