ramona the brave

In addition to our moving at the same time, Kathleen and I also must get rid of our cars. She doesn’t need one in Brooklyn; and my decision is more motivated purely by finances. Why dump $400 a month into my beloved, all-wheel-drive forest green (my favorite color!) Subaru Forester when I could have a cheap Ford minivan with 157,000 miles on it that we could buy outright?
The reason is this: Because I love my car. It has a name (Ramona), and it’s never left me on the side of the road, unlike other cars whose names (Walter, the fickle Ford Escort) I won’t mention. Besides, I think Ramona would be happy in Colorado. The snow and mountains will give her a good workout. And she’s green, the same color as my idealized vision of the Rockies in the summer.
Unfortunately, my family enjoys living in a house with four walls. We like having three meals a day, and clothes do cut the chill in winter. Silly family. So, as a matter of pure economics in these trying times, I have to face this.
I’ve never loved a car like I’ve loved Ramona. I don’t know that I ever will.