Skip to main content

Hey, looks aren't everything!



It doesn't look like much - especially from this distance - but that mini van behind the tow truck was our world for many years. 

 Our family traveled nearly 180,000 miles and tallied up even more memories within the walls/windows of that Ford Windstar. It took us to Washington D.C., Florida, on countless trips to Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and St. Louis. And all around this beautiful state of Michigan. It was the vehicle of choice when taking the three not-so-little Piggins on college visits and then hauling their worldly goods to the college they chose from those visits. It was easy to distinguish from every other white mini-van because there were bumper stickers from those colleges and also a couple from their high schools!

 It took the three not-so-little Piggins to golf matches, baseball and football games, auditions and rehearsals. It has held the golf team and members of the band, honors choir, quiz bowl, youth group and countless other configurations of groups. And while on the way to ski club, it served as the place to complete homework before hitting the slopes.

 We have listened to nearly every Harry Potter novel while on a vacation in that van (and after returning from D.C. we even sat in the van while it was parked in the garage so we could finish the last 15 minutes!) and a few other great books.
And as they grew and their music tastes changed the van was witness to this - and the battles for control over the radio or CD or, later, the AUX cord. 

 And behind the wheel, all three of the not-so-little Piggins learned to drive with varying degrees of patience from this mom. It has heard this mom say some pretty unkind things - when the kids were there or not! It has gotten this family safely through some terrible snow storms (and at those times likely heard some of those choice words!). And as far as this mom is aware, it was never in an accident.

 It has taken this family to doctor's visits, the emergency room and hospital. It has been the vehicle of choice for Chinese fire drills - because of the automatic sliding doors in the back. And for awhile we were convinced it was possessed because it's interior lights would suddenly blink on an off - but as it got older and tired the interior lights didn't always work. (And the automatic sliding doors stopped working as well.)

 So, it was bittersweet to see it tethered to the back of that tow truck.[ We donated it to charity (not sure which one)]. I don't think there's much life left in it and it will likely be used for parts - so it can live on for other families for many years!

 Delaney recalled recently the day we picked it up; she and her brothers were discussing which seat would be theirs. Our previous mini van had one bench seat in the middle and another in the back - and they marveled at the bucket seats. And our previous van had only one sliding door - and it wasn't a power door, so they marveled over two sliding doors. And there were separate sound and thermostat controls. We were riding in luxury! During this last year or two, Delaney had it at Webster and most of the 'bells and whistles' didn't work any longer - but it still worked.

 So fair well, Piggins-mobile. You were a good, trustworthy world.

Comments

Post a Comment

It's not a popularity contest, but ...

Lefties and Other Exceptional People

I have had the opportunity to do a lot of driving lately - back-and-forth to Wabash College and to-and-from Holland, Grand Rapids and East Lansing. It's given me lots of time to think and ponder the greater mysteries of the world; like the purpose of life, why my thumbnails always break first, the speed at which a state police officer will actually pull you over for and the theory of relativity. Oh, not THE theory of Relativity - with a capital 'R", created by Mr. Genius Einstein. No, my own theory of relativity - with a lower case 'r'. Created by this less-than-genius mother of three and wife of one! My theory is that the absolute worst drivers are those that drive exclusively in the left lane (I call them lefties) and the ones that believe the rules of the road apply to everyone except them (I call them exceptional people). I call it my own theory of relativity because these drivers are relatively unaware of how to drive. You know the ones that are going the spe...
1 comment
Read more

Poster Child for chemo and freak of nature

I made the comment to my oncologist last week, during my chemo infusion, that I could be a poster child for chemo.  "You pretty much are," she said. I have thus far been sailing through chemo, albeit like a sailboat stuck out in the middle of Lake Michigan when the winds die and it's not moving for three to four days. Because my primary side effect has been extreme fatigue for 3-4 days post chemo. Last Saturday, 2 days post chemo, I took my shower and got dressed and announced to John that I now needed a nap - that kind of fatigue.  And being a woman who has dealt with the fatigue of MS, I thought this chemo kind would be familiar and similar to the exhaustion I feel on a hot summer day where retrieving the mail (our mailbox is at the end of our driveway) while riding my scooter to get it  feels like I've run a 5K. That kind of fatigue. This is the kind that makes it difficult to even get up, needing a nap after getting out of bed. Well that might be a little ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Work of art or a work in progress!

Last fall, I was asked if I wanted my portrait painted as part of an exhibit entitled "Moving Through the Unimaginable". The requester was a young woman I have long admired, but for the moment I began to doubt my admiration for her because she described the exhibit's subjects as having 'endured adversity or trauma or disease with grace'. I didn't initially see how I fit into that description, but after some discussion with my hubby and reflection, Whitney's (the requester) esteem in my eyes was restored and I agreed. I was looking at myself through my own eyes. Know what I mean?? I don't see myself as exuding any grace as I've 'endured' my experience with M.S. In actuality, I get quite ticked on days like today when the sun is shining and everyone seems to be out enjoying the sunshine and balmy 42 degrees (I live in Michigan and 42 in March is a heat wave!) walking their dog, or biking or just walking. I know my pure-bred mutt Wall...
Post a Comment
Read more