Pablo

Dear Pablo, 

The other day I caught myself daydreaming about some stuff that made me think of us... I was listening to a song that brought to the surface some good memories about you and me. Maybe it will do the same for you (check it out here: click HERE ) Remember when you used to sing me songs? I could just drive for hours listening you play our favorite songs... 

I know this isn't what you want to hear right now and I know it's not fair for me to just drop in on you like this, but I just can't help myself. I feel like I will always regret giving you away. And although I know it was for the best, I will always cherish our times. I fear that no one else will ever replace the kind of car you were. We didn't really leave things on the best terms but I hope you do understand that it was the best thing for the both of us. There was just no way we could stay together with where I was going with my new wife. I mean, there was no way we could of got you onto the plane.

I don't really know what my goals are in writing this letter now... I don't even know if I'll send it to... If anything, if I could see you again, I think I'd tell you how awesome you are. I'd hold you in my arms and wish for a moment that it could last forever. Sometimes when I'm wandering around, I think about getting another car, but then I get afraid that it wouldn't be the same... And it's this fear that keeps me from loving another.

I hope you are doing well with your new owners. I'm sure you are; you always had a way of keeping your way on down the road, in spite of your short comings. My friends would tell me that you were no good. Some of my family would even tell me things that weren't so nice. The worst of it was when Heather's sister called you a piece of shit... that really hurt. But I knew it wasn't true and I was right, wasn't I? I was so proud of you when we made it all the way to Florida. I mean, there were times when I had some doubts about our relationship but you never gave up on us... unlike me. Will you ever forgive me? 

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that i was thinking about you. There will never be a better car than you. Here are some pics of our good times...  

Indian Rocks Beach, Florida - "Our last night" We sold Pablo for $650 to a jewish guy from Boston. We didn't have much time and a few other interested people backed out on us so time was of the essence which meant this guy got Pablo for an absolute steal. 

Yosemite National Park - Man, Pablo makes this campsite look good. 

I put the racing stripe in rasta colors on Pablo just before we left. I felt like she needed to be distinct. It didn't occur to me until we were out of the northwest that maybe what the racing stripe was really a request to be pulled over by suspecting law officials. And although that didn't happen, I was surprised at how few comments I got during our trip. I think the worst of it was when an older guy in middle Illinois offered me some razors so I could "scrape that shit off my car." 

Day 1 - Scappoose, Oregon - This is the morning we left. As i was loading up our stuff, Robin came out and told me something that was kind of unique. I made a comment about the kind of morning it was. He agreed and looked off into space (that's where I think he spends most of his time) and told me that in all of his years of wandering, Northwest Oregon was the one place that was able to keep him still. And while that may sound oddly eclectic, Robin would be the one who would know about it. I've been thinking about that morning ever since. 

Bumfock, Georgia - Triple A (AAA) is a beautiful thing. I used my membership to it's fullest with Pablo as my primary mode of transportation. I think I have a break down story with every single one of my friends that involves my AAA membership. 

There was one break down along our way. And of course it came in the most backwoods part of the south we drove through. We broke down at the start of a thunder lightening rain storm just after dust driving south. We were trying to make it across the Florida state line and were about an hour to it but then Pablo powered down. Luckily, it happened just at an off-ramp that deposited us into the parking lot of a hotel with an Applebees across the street. (If you ever want to see some super sized Americans, go to a southern Applebee's at 8 o'clock on a Thursday night. Oh, and don't expect to find anything vegetarian or not prepared with cisco on the menu.) 

Amarillo, Texas - Pablo was kind of out of place in this parking lot. 

a campground in southeast Minnesota. Our time in Minnesota was rushed and ill prepared; I do wish we would of gave ourselves more time while we where here. 

Road sodie anyone?

route 66 in New Mexico