I recently sent my car to the scrap yard after years of solid service and many miles of driving. Although it is an inanimate object it is a big one that takes up space and presence and it felt odd not seeing the faithful vehicle, that had served so well, in its usual parking spot. Attachment to an old car sounds funny but it goes beyond mere sentimentality; it encompasses the memories and journeys intertwined with it.
And so, I travelled in my mind through the memories on wheels, now a metaphor for a life’s journey, and which has become a time capsule holding road trips to visit friends, trips to the cottage and the special reunions that took place every dent telling a story of adventure and shared experiences. Beyond the odometer reading the miles of memories this car carried the weight of miles travelled each mile representing a journey taken, whether it was a daily commute or errand, a weekend outing, a cross country expedition, a visit with my dog to the park or to access surrounding nature landscapes.
Life doesn’t always take a straight path and neither the roads we travel. My car had witnessed the scenic routes I had taken as well as the unexpected detours that led me to new discoveries and unplanned events. Like a travel companion on life’s journey the hunk of metal propelled me forward providing safety and a way to get to a destination.
Sometimes the best memories are made off the beaten path and, on the road, less travelled. My car took me to places unknown allowing me to explore new landscapes and forge connections with people and places I may never have encountered otherwise. By the end I felt the nostalgia with every rusty bolt, every creak and groan as my car being the testament of the memories it held. Despite the wear and tear it was what I knew, its value in the nostalgia it evoked and the stories it held in its weathered frame.
Like my cell phone I tend to lean into longevity and avoid a new car every few years and so mine really was a legacy on wheels now a relic of the past yet holding true as a symbol of resilience and endurance. Like myself it weathered the storms and stood the test of time, a tangible reminder of the journey’s I have taken, and the roads still left to explore.
In the crossroads of life sometimes we find ourselves with a destination unknown, but life continues to be a journey and like my old car I continue to embody the spirit of adventure and exploration.
With each turn of the key in my new car, I am invited to continue to embrace many unknowns and an opportunity to embark on new territories and…
I say let me go wherever the road may lead!