hey annie j: Black Velvie

When the car repairman came back from checking my car, it was quite obvious it was bad when he kindly said, "How attached are ya to the car?"

I literally had to go into the restroom to hold back tears!

I know it is ridiculous to get that attached to a car, but also in my defense it was not in our plan to get rid of MY car any time soon. We wanted to ditch Tim's car. So, the combination of that bad news and the ruining of "the plan" left me a little stunned.

Black Velvet began her journey in our family when Hil first bought her. After spending a while in Hil's hands she switched ownership to Kelv. She drove across the country twice while he sold security systems in D.C. When I turned 16 my parents kindly handed her over to me. Oooh I was so happy! She took me up and down schoolhouse hill every day, even on the most wintery of days! And to and from Park City to my job as well. Cars are liberating in high school. My friends and I all had fun piling in each other's cars and going on any sort of adventure. Velv was always up for that. I also had two minor accidents within 4 days of each other the first year I could drive... not exactly the coolest thing to ever happen to me but hey, I survived and Velv is solid so... all is well.

When I left for Hawaii Kelv got her back. Again I almost cried as that moment came and I rushed to clean all my stuff out, and he drove slowly away!

When I came home she took me all over Salt Lake City day in and day out. We've also been on lots of trips to Logan, Evanston, St. George and many other places. I can't help but be attached when my car has been a part of so many good memories! Trusty and reliable, with many-a-weird "personality traits" I knew pretty much everything about this car and I loved her!

I just wanted to kinda record a few of these things because in my family cars are talked about A LOT! We have had so many strange and spunky cars that carry the funniest stories! They contribute to our history, in a way. We get attached to their individual quirks and especially all the hilarious memories they can represent. I'm grateful for cars! Just think about all the places we couldn't go if we didn't have them. We're lucky, we're blessed.

Also, it's a big stepping stone to buy your first car! Tim has had his eye on this one for a while now... he is not nearly as traumatized about my loss as I am.

My Hawaii window decal...
Sad to lose that along with the car!

New addition.
It needs a name.

Why is buying cars such a pain? I mean I've heard horror stories of car buying experiences, ours was fine but still... such a pain. I was an ornery bum the whole time I was there... which wasn't much because I had class during part of it, thank goodness. But I have studied lately about car dealers and sales people of any sort, for that matter, and if I had been there any longer I think I would have started screaming I can see right through all of your sneaky tricks!!!! Stop with all the tackiness and the "I don't usually do this..." or "I'm really cutting you a deal..." Aaaahhhhh! Anyway. I am happy with the purchase. I am excited to have reliable car to travel in. I'm grateful we have the money to afford it. I'm grateful for Tim's dad sitting through most of that process with us and I'm grateful to have a smart, knowledgable husband who does his research and provides for us. And also my dad whom I call about car questions about every other day. He's the greatest.