Goodbye, Onyx...
I've gone back over previous entries and remain grateful that I used to be so prolific with this journal. There's been a lot of balls in the air lately; moving vehicles, a flooding dishwasher, Momma potentially having a blood clot (she doesn't!), and more and more drama concerning my father's death. We're coming up on our one-year wedding anniversary and I am so hopeful that by the time we get to our lodging, most of the vehicles will be rightly assigned and settled.
It's overall been a racket. Appraising my father's truck, figuring out if we should buy a vehicle, finding the vehicle (in Allentown!), and then hustling for two-ish weeks about how to get said vehicle. I thought it was a matter of a weekend with my being on the title, but apparently, it's exceptionally difficult to die in Maryland and nothing is that easy. Now, there's multiple title clerks, Momma and I will be heading to Towson tomorrow for more paperwork, and I am so, so hopeful I will be able to get my new car on Thursday after selling my father's truck.
It's a bittersweet transaction; I'm thankful that my cars are running so it is not a mad dash to get another vehicle. But the stress of moving cars, selling them, finding titles, locating dealers, etc. has my brain particularly spinny. There's other things happening (no coworker at work yet, Shania rearing her ugly head, aforementioned flooding dishwasher that's since been repaired, a tree guy showing up and needing to pay him, Momma's non-DVT, friendship struggles) that are not positively contributing to any of this. I know I'm capable, and I know I'm both diligent and resilient. But I do wish things would STOP.
I'm hopeful they're going to slow down after next week. Tomorrow, we go to get Official Paperwork so the truck is gone and I have a new-ish car. And then next week will be spent with titling, which should be inconvenient but relatively painless.
Today? Today I sold Onyx. With buying a new vehicle, we'd have three vehicles and we're only two people. And as much as I love Onyx, his 196,000 miles are very impressive but not sustainable. The guy was amazed at how well he ran with the mileage. There was some cosmetic issues, but I signed his title and received a check. And just like that, the car I've had longer than my partner is gone.
The car that took me to several weddings over multiple state lines. Drove up and back from Florida multiple times. Even drove to Atlanta for a fandom conference. When I would jam out with his excellent sound system. When the roof was no longer covered in buttons, but the back would be filled with presents or baby paraphernalia. He handled snow, was abandoned once, and even had to downshift into a lower gear I was dubious I even had.
I lamented when I was given the Fusion because I loved Onyx so much. But it made more sense for me to drive the newer car with less miles than continuing to hustle through the city. Onyx spent much of the past year in semi-retirement, driving rarely through the city streets he once knew so well. He would go on assignment with Fidget. But Fidget didn't care as much for him. I'd take him occasionally for bigger trips, or when I needed the hatch. But Fidget didn't love that car as much as I did, which is fine. It was a tool in his work. I gave him personality.
I peeled off the Ravens magnet that had tried to cement to the back. We pulled out CDs and a forgotten Kindle. I wiped down dashboards and removed the paperwork. The rosary. The palms from a long ago friend.
I paused at the "Daughter, Drive Safely" medallion.
I took down the fake rose Fidget had gotten at work and subsequently given me for our first Valentine's Day.
I found Pop's expired handicapped placard.
I sprinkled in baking soda and vacuumed, hoping for the best. The outside was a covering of pollen and "helicopters," clogging up the dry-rotted windshield wipers.
You served us well, Onyx. You served me very well. I remember when I bought you and had to leave Kermit. I have looked out into our parking lot, expecting you to come home tomorrow.
So much finality in such a small period of time. To sign my very long name on a pink line. To take my bright green check. To leave the keys behind...
Onyx home for his final morning...
... I hope your next owner gives you as much love as I did.
It's overall been a racket. Appraising my father's truck, figuring out if we should buy a vehicle, finding the vehicle (in Allentown!), and then hustling for two-ish weeks about how to get said vehicle. I thought it was a matter of a weekend with my being on the title, but apparently, it's exceptionally difficult to die in Maryland and nothing is that easy. Now, there's multiple title clerks, Momma and I will be heading to Towson tomorrow for more paperwork, and I am so, so hopeful I will be able to get my new car on Thursday after selling my father's truck.
It's a bittersweet transaction; I'm thankful that my cars are running so it is not a mad dash to get another vehicle. But the stress of moving cars, selling them, finding titles, locating dealers, etc. has my brain particularly spinny. There's other things happening (no coworker at work yet, Shania rearing her ugly head, aforementioned flooding dishwasher that's since been repaired, a tree guy showing up and needing to pay him, Momma's non-DVT, friendship struggles) that are not positively contributing to any of this. I know I'm capable, and I know I'm both diligent and resilient. But I do wish things would STOP.
I'm hopeful they're going to slow down after next week. Tomorrow, we go to get Official Paperwork so the truck is gone and I have a new-ish car. And then next week will be spent with titling, which should be inconvenient but relatively painless.
Today? Today I sold Onyx. With buying a new vehicle, we'd have three vehicles and we're only two people. And as much as I love Onyx, his 196,000 miles are very impressive but not sustainable. The guy was amazed at how well he ran with the mileage. There was some cosmetic issues, but I signed his title and received a check. And just like that, the car I've had longer than my partner is gone.
The car that took me to several weddings over multiple state lines. Drove up and back from Florida multiple times. Even drove to Atlanta for a fandom conference. When I would jam out with his excellent sound system. When the roof was no longer covered in buttons, but the back would be filled with presents or baby paraphernalia. He handled snow, was abandoned once, and even had to downshift into a lower gear I was dubious I even had.
I lamented when I was given the Fusion because I loved Onyx so much. But it made more sense for me to drive the newer car with less miles than continuing to hustle through the city. Onyx spent much of the past year in semi-retirement, driving rarely through the city streets he once knew so well. He would go on assignment with Fidget. But Fidget didn't care as much for him. I'd take him occasionally for bigger trips, or when I needed the hatch. But Fidget didn't love that car as much as I did, which is fine. It was a tool in his work. I gave him personality.
I peeled off the Ravens magnet that had tried to cement to the back. We pulled out CDs and a forgotten Kindle. I wiped down dashboards and removed the paperwork. The rosary. The palms from a long ago friend.
I paused at the "Daughter, Drive Safely" medallion.
I took down the fake rose Fidget had gotten at work and subsequently given me for our first Valentine's Day.
I found Pop's expired handicapped placard.
I sprinkled in baking soda and vacuumed, hoping for the best. The outside was a covering of pollen and "helicopters," clogging up the dry-rotted windshield wipers.
You served us well, Onyx. You served me very well. I remember when I bought you and had to leave Kermit. I have looked out into our parking lot, expecting you to come home tomorrow.
So much finality in such a small period of time. To sign my very long name on a pink line. To take my bright green check. To leave the keys behind...
Onyx home for his final morning...
... I hope your next owner gives you as much love as I did.