jennybeane.com

For fourteen years, I had the most glorious minivan.

I know what you’re thinking.

And no.

GLORIOUS is not a typo.

Minivans have never been glamorous. But ours was as spacious as a house on wheels, and got us from here to there. It had power windows, cup holders, and plenty of leg space.

Despite my sensitive car-induced nausea, I never, EVER felt carsick in my minivan.

But a few months after separating from my husband of over 20 years, the minivan was traded in for something younger and less… nerdy.

Six months later, I can still see the irony.

You see, in many ways,

I see myself as that minivan.

It had loads of cosmetic defects. Some, done by myself. Some, done by my husband, in careless fits of parking rage that, at the time, seemed funny.

Who cares? We giggled. The marks give it character.

It had tons of miles on it. Some from normal, routine trips to work and back home. Some from extraordinary adventures and legendary vacations.

That thing can go another 100,000 miles, my uncle said.

But then came a time when a lot of work loomed on the horizon.

Major repairs and replacements needed to be made in order to keep it going for that projected 100,000 more miles.

My husband decided it wasn’t worth it.

And maybe it wasn’t.

After all, it’s just a minivan.

But as I’m writing, and contemplating the complexity of my life, I can’t help but think…

What might have been?

If we would have sunk some time, energy, love and money into that minivan, would it be faithful to us now- and far into the future?

But uh-oh,

you see,

I have a lot in common with that minivan.

I’m old. I have plenty of defects, and I show my age.

I have accrued loads of miles (wrinkles and gray hairs) from the bumpy roads of life.

And yes, I need some work.

But I can’t help but think-

that with the loving care of my friends and family,

with the energy that they share,

and with the bountiful love and attention I receive,

that I can be revived and renewed for several hundred thousand miles more.

What do you think?

I think, and I hope,

that yes,

I can.

Here are some quotes related to this post that make me feel happy:

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature,

but beautiful old people are works of art.

–_{Eleanor Roosevelt}

Wrinkles will only go

where the smiles have been.

^{-Jimmy Buffett}

I’m not telling you what to do.

But maybe invest in some time, money, energy, and

love

into that old, old minivan.