RIP Dextie

Dear Dextie,

May you rest in peace.  You came to us new in 1998, making you 13 (close to 14) when you passed.  For the grand total of about $13,000, we got a brand new car with no upgrades to be seen.  A Civic DX (I keep wondering if this is how I came up with Dexter) 5-speed, you were driven so carefully by Uncle Bob, and I know he cringed when he signed you over to me in 2006 for only $1,000!  I learned to drive stick with you, which until the age of 19 was a huge point earner with the boys for me.

I'm sorry I didn't treat you better, as I have no doubt that you could still be running today.  From the first time I crashed you, I took you for granted, and the oil changes and car washes got further and further apart.  You turned into a traveling storage locker and I'm sure the added weight of all of my crap took a toll on your suspension.  After your hood was shut too hard last June, your stitched on bumper proved to be the least of your problems.  I wasn't too worried about not being able to give you an oil change - you HAD lasted over 17,000 miles once - but I also knew that once something went wrong, we couldn't crack your chest another time.

I'm sure giving you a rest from May until October was not my finest idea (you poor, neglected beast), but you really came through when I needed you these past few weeks.  You held back your tired sighs and dutifully started and delivered me safely to work when I forgot my keys to the truck in Pat's car.  Then, when the Beemer died on us and I needed you again, you got me where I needed to be - and back - before switching your check engine light on and throwing the towel in.  I respect that you're tired, and you will be cleaned out before we move and donated to charity, where I am sure they can use you for parts.  Think of it as organ donation, my friend - an honorable way to go.

(Don't think there haven't been tears shed, or that there won't be more when he gets towed away.  Dextie has been an institution in this family, and this feels like the end of an era.  Moving into a house that we own AND saying goodbye to my teenage car at the same time is a big "hey you're an adult now" wake up call and I don't like it!!)