Saturday, September 20, 2008

New Company Car

It's a sad day here at the Tate house (I suppose I can call it that because of all the junk mail that I get that's addressed to "The Tate Family").

I had to say goodbye this week to my Chevrolet Caprice Classic. Manufactured in Texas in 1992, I started driving her back in November of 2000. Once convinced of the inadvisability of going ahead with the thousands of dollars worth of prescribed repairs - I traded her in on Friday with an odometer reading of 275,500 miles.

She had many names: the ghetto sled, desert sled, u.s.s. John Isaac - I called her Betsy. She wore plates from four states - Georgia, Vermont, Connecticut, and Arizona. She carried me safely and always without incident to countless camps and other ministry opportunities. She's skipped up the San Jacinto Mountains, skated through the Vermont backwoods, and raced across the Sonoran Desert. She was such a blessing and I thank God so very much for such a wonderful car. I'm going to miss that most sweetest of rides.

My new company car is a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. This one was manufactured in Canada - I pray she see just as much and even more than the Chevrolet!

6 comments:

barefootkangaroo said...

Wowzers! I can't believe you replaced her with a Crown Vic. I thought you would have gone with a different flavor. Crown Vics are nice cars though. I can't wait to ride in it. If you die, can I have it?

Anonymous said...

275,000+ - And I thought I was doing well at 190,000 - guess I can go a while longer. You have probably made a prudent decision but I'm sure you will miss that car just for the memories it held. I remember being surprised at the kind of car you had when you came to see Grandma. Aunt Roxanna

MomZup said...

How many miles on the Vic? I am rejoicing that you now have working air. . .CD player? Sorry you now have a car payment. You were very wise to make the move to a newer car despite your attachment to dear Betsy. What color is Vic? How about a picture??? I am off to work. Sorry I missed your phone call. We love you!

john tate said...

I'm not able to post a picture as yet. It's silver and has 39 thousand miles - a real monster this car.

Andrew said...

Well, I know what it's like to have to say goodbye to a dear old vehicle. I have always felt a sort of resentment toward the replacement vehicle for some while after. I don't know if you have ever felt the same.....

john tate said...

I know exactly what you're talking about. I wish I could keep all my old cars out in the backyard and never say goodbye.