Tuesday, June 15, 2010

PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW

GOODBYE NANA'S VAN. YOU'VE SERVED OUR FAMILY WELL.
I took my last drive in Nanas Van today. She's been adopted by the Wernle Youth and Family Treatment Center (aka Wernle Children's Home) in Indiana. http://wernle.org/. I know they're thankful to have her and will treat her well. She'll meet lots of children who need guidance and love and she'll take them where they need to go and make sure they arrive back at the center safely. These things I know....but I'm sad tonight that my van is gone and I'll not ever drive her again.
There are so many memories connected to my van. She carried grandkids to and from picnics, out-of-state bike rides, camping trips, Letterboxing excursions, and other adventures. We counted on her to take our old feeble kitties to the vet for their last visits. She toted my craft show set-up and transported old friends, new friends, and everyone in between. She took my family and I to Gambier, Ohio to pet tigers for my 50th birthday, and to Logan Ohio for the surprise log cabin Christmas/birthday celebration for my mom's 75th. She also took us safely to Michigan and back when my brother passed away the following year.
Spouse is less emotional than I. He doesn't become attached to his vehicles. He buys one, uses it as long as he sees fit, then buys another without so much as a blink of an eye. Me? I attribute human feelings to the vehicles I drive. I know how silly that is, but watching the van leave today was almost like having someone adopt one of my kittens.
We'd initially listed the van on CraigsList and received some "nibbles" but no one wanted to buy such an old van I guess, so we decided to donate her to Wernle and the staff seemed thrilled at the prospect. Some years ago, as part of a church group, we visited Wernle Children's home, as it was then called. We learned about the wonderful programs they had for young men who had come from intolerable home situations and for those who had become misdirected. We know Nana's Van will have a useful life and become part of the Wernle family just as she had been part of ours.
Today was a day for changes, so Spouse secured a new license plate for me. The car I'll drive from now on will be known as "KD KATZ". My spouse laughs every time he thinks of it, but he's the one who helped choose the name. I like it and think it's very fitting.

6 comments:

michelle said...

oh kady so sad to hear of nanas van departure ,but just think of all the new memories she will create for all those little ones.god bless michelle

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

I am the same way as you getting rid of a car...love your new license plate..;) so now what will you drive?

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

I too get--rather got attached to my "wheels" when I drove and have often dreamed about them since--in fact last night I dreamed about my two toned blue comet I had--loved that little car--but then I really liked all my cars!!!!
Hugs, Di

Kady said...

That's true Michelle. I know that old van will be full of young boys going on field trips and having fun. That's a good thing.

Kady said...

You too, Di? I'm surely not alone then. I don't think I've dreamt about my vehicles though. LOL

Kady said...

Hi Gina...glad to know I'm not the only one. Our vehicles become like friends. We recently bought a 2005 Buick Rendezvous and I like it, but it's going to take a little time to get used to it. Hubby says it's almost the same size as the van....but I don't know about that. Seems smaller to me and I liked sitting up high above the street. LOL