Xterra

I'm sentimental about cars. I've only had three and I've loved each. First, I had the old red truck. It was a classic. In fact, I wish I still had it except when summer comes and I think of how the black plastic seats clung to every bit of exposed skin when the air conditioner wasn't working. But there was something wonderful about the white tool box and the unexpectedness of a doctor's daughter driving a beat up old truck. It wasn't exactly what the other kids expected and I liked that. Dad actually used to drive it to work and park it in the doctor's lot. He found an official hospital note on the truck one afternoon stating that this was a doctor's parking lot and would he please not park there again. It didn't quite fit in with the other, ahem, nicer cars. 

My second car was the red jeep, my baby jeep as I called it. I had that jeep for 10 years and I found it to be a consistent, stabilizing force in the years of going to college, moving into my first apartment, driving back and forth from home to Birmingham. 

My third and current car is the Xterra. I dubbed it "Midnight" but I've never referred to as that. It was a forced nickname and nicknames just can't and shouldn't be forced. When I got the car, it had 52 miles on it. Today, I reached 100,052 miles on the odometer. The Xterra and I have gone 100,000 miles together. We've been on trips to Nashville, now trips to Birmingham, trips to the beach, a trip to Kentucky to meet Amy in the middle, a trip to Natalie's wedding, trips to Natalie's house to celebrate New Year's Eve with her family, multiple trips to Melissa's apartment to cook and play tennis, and of course, many a trip to Bradford and now, Vanderbilt. It's been a good car so far and I'm hoping for another 100,000 miles. 

Here is a photo of the Xterra under a light dusting of snow outside of my apartment off of Highland Avenue. That was my favorite place I've ever lived. 

Here's my Xterra co-pilot on December 7, 2012 as we left our home in Birmingham to drive to Nashville for the big move. 

Blessings to my father who provided me with three wonderful vehicles and no car payment. I am grateful.