The Minivan

When I began driving, my first vehicle was a one owner, '88 Ford Ranger, XLT, with an extended cab, and shortbed, with the roll bars welded into the wheel wells, and the off-road lights.

Before my daughter was born, I realized that the jump seats in the back did not fit a child's car seat. Honestly, I had to think long and hard. I had such a love for my little red truck that was known all over town. But my infant's safety won out.

My second vehicle was what my older sister termed at the time 'The Grocery Getter" - a 1996 Ford Escort Wagon in green. Lovely. The first 4 door vehicle I had ever driven. Plenty of room for child, and all the accoutrement ( ie: crap) that one would expect to find hidden away in a hallway closet.

The head gasket blew the week after my sister passed away, peeing green, sickly sweet smelling coolant all over the student parking lot. One of the teachers drove by as I pulled into a parking spot and coolant spewed forth under the wagon; pulling up along side me he said straight faced, "You have a slight leak there, ya know?"

My third vehicle was a 1997 Ford Blazer, white, 4 door with 4x4 auto. "Suuuuhhhhhwweeett!!" was the word that came to mind when my parents told me they would purchase it for me. A major thing for them to even offer or realize my financial dire straights at the time, going to college full time and being a single parent who just lost her roommate and good friend as well as sister.

I had the Blazer until December 2006. I couldn't take it anymore, and I wasn't going to ask Dave to pay in on any more repairs. More than $4000 clams were sucked up in the two years I had the Blazer, much as I loved it.

My fourth vehicle... as a mom of one, looking to be a mom of two...happened to be something I could afford once my trade in totals calculated to be over half the asking price. I can't tell you how good it feels to qualify for a car loan all by myself.

My minivan. Ahh. Made in the year 2003, this Ford Windstar had less than 43,xxx miles on it upon purchase and only one owner. This, to date, is the newest vehicle I've ever had.

The purchase of such a vehicle though means that I am getting older. It means I've given up my high ideals of "SUV FOREVER!"; as I once swore, slightly inebriated, telling others I would never, EVER become a 'minivan mom'. The fear alone of turning into a carbon copy 'soccer mom' who drives a minivan was enough to cause a panic attack at one time.

It's really not that scary...especially when you have a really cool pentagram decal on it. heh.

Yes, I'm working on the last part.