So Where We Going?

Today was a bittersweet day.  I sold my 2000 Camry which I leased in January 2000 and then purchased in 2004.  It was time but it was still difficult.  I couldn't help but reflect on the many places the Camry took me and so many other people.  Some of the highlights over the last almost 14 years include:

• I drove it to four different jobs
• Been through 16 states, as best I can remember
• Drove around an NFL kicker on a Saturday night
• Been pulled over by a cop three times
• Never been in a wreck
• Picked up Kasey on our first date
• Took Kasey on our date the night I proposed
• Took Myla and Luke to school on a few occasions

It was a great car with a lot of great memories.  How great that I drove it to my first job, picked up my wife on our first date, and then I also have pictures of my children doing this:

 

Their first car wash

 

However, my favorite memory is on the night I picked up Kasey for the first time.  I drove to Lexington to meet her and some other friends from college.  She got in the car, I slapped my hand on her thigh, and said "so where we going?"  Her answer that night....I couldn't tell you.  The answer 12 years later to "so where we going?"  How about a move to Boston for a great couple of years, then a trip to South Bend where we have settled into awesome jobs, made great life-long friends, and had the two most beautiful children anyone could ever hope for.  What a great 12 years in my life with so many memories.  The Camry was  there for a lot of them but it was time to pass it along to someone else.  Especially since the moon roof doesn't open anymore, the fabric on the ceiling of the car is sagging, it's rusting, doesn't have the LATCH system for our car seats, is peeling paint, and doesn't have heated seats.  I think the final straw was the embarassment I faced when having to drive my boss in it.  Now it belongs in the hands of a family with several teenagers so that's exactly who I sold it to.  So long Camry....you will always be remembered (sniffle).

Superman Part 2

Luke was wearing his Superman shirt this morning, and as I was helping him brush his teeth I was struck by how much he looked like this one picture we have of Matthew.  The blonde hair and the shirt are nearly identical, and Matthew must be about three years old here.

I decided to try to recreate the picture (Luke was not terribly good at following directions like "Look at me and smile--show your teeth--now look off to the left--but just with your eyes!")  But it's still pretty cool.  See for yourself: