I love John Steinbeck’s book “Travels with Charley” because it captures the freedom, curiosity, and unpredictability of the open road- the very feelings that have brought me so much happiness behind the wheel. When he started his journey, he named his truck “Rocante,” and I chose that name for my car, a trusted companion whose long, steady journey would become one of the great joys of my life.
This car was an incredible travel companion, racking up about 245,500 miles that filled my life with quiet joy and deep contentment. We experienced every kind of weather, faced traffic jams, burned through countless gallons of gasoline, and made endless pit stops along the way, and through it all, reaching that remarkable 245,500-mile mark felt like a badge of honor we earned together.
Every day, we hear the refrain, “they don’t build them like they used to.” I’m here to tell you this was a perfect partner, one whose reliability and spirit made parting with her bittersweet. When it came time for me to get another vehicle, I put a notice in the paper, and within two days, a family purchased her for their granddaughter’s first car, a farewell that warmed my heart and made me very happy.
