Farewell, Four-Wheeled Friend

A car is just a car. We've had this 2000 Nissan Altima since 2004. It's not flashy or fast or even very interesting. But it's been through a lot.

It was the first car Traci and I bought together.

It's the car that we drove to the hospital when we went from being newly(ish) weds to parents. (When we first put Paige in the car seat, I was so incredibly nervous that I don't think I drove more than 15 mph the whole way home.)

It was the car we drove to buy our first house (and our second) and to bring Curtis home from the hospital.

Though we bought a minivan before Tate was born, he's the one who's most attached to what he calls "the black car." Whenever there's a choice of vehicle, he wants to ride with me in the Altima. (When we showed the kids the new car, Tate refused to get in.)

It's been a good 12 years, black car. Thanks for the ride.