Farewell

With heavy hearts and tears in our eyes (sniff, sniff) we bid a fond adieu to you, 1996 Plymouth Voyager.

It all began in September of 2001. Our family had expanded over the summer to add our 3rd child, Sophie Belle. The once comfortable sleek ride of the Mazda 626 was becoming more cumbersome with 3 carseats, one atop the other. And then you showed up in the Used Car ads. Could we be so lucky, to be the minivan owners we said we'd never be? Surely only kings and queens, barons and baroness', princes and the like could only afford such luxury. And you were so appealing; sporty dark green shiny paint, a roof rack, grey flecked upholstry, power doors and windows. And oh, the stereo--sweet mother of Pete is that even a cassette player for us to sing along to"Bear in the Big Blue House"? How could we say no? And then you were ours-- and memories were made.

You kept the air cool on that hot September day, not long after we purchased you. Cool enough to keep our almost 6 week-old baby content until the Camas Police came to help us jimmy the doors unlocked after Scott realized the potential danger in power door locks. You endured a trip to Southern California with several stops at In and Out Burger as well as parking near Disneyland. You drove us to the hospital for stitches and broken arms. You drove us on trips to the beach, Scout Camp, and to Utah. And now we must part ways. No longer will you be parked next to 3 other green minivans at church. They too have moved on to "greener" pastures. You will serve another owner well. We bid you farewell!