Elvis Has Left The Building

Well, a few weeks ago we came to a crossroads with Elvis--our four door, little, blue Mazda.  We needed to make a decision.  Elvis got sick again and we had to determine if continually fixing it and the amount of fixing the car was worth continuing to keep the car.  We needed to make a decision as we got word of the three possibilities of Elvis' current ailments at the time, which included two  possibilities that were pointing to a future catastrophic engine failure.

I had a day trip out of town that weekend, and after remembering how many times I have had to either find another ride or pray that Elvis would just make it to a location in one piece even a half hour away, decisions had to be made.  We especially needed to make the decision as us having a larger family needing more seating meant that whomever parent stayed home with the kiddos as the other one ventured out, meant we had no choice but to leave the better and healthier vehicle at home with the remaining parent and for the kiddos in order to get around to various activities and such.  That continual realization meant that the other parent would have to take the older, sickly vehicle on road trips.

So when Scot called me up with the news about the Mazda's condition, we made a decision that it was time for Elvis to go.  We were excited with our new choice of vehicle but I have to say when the dealership drove the little Mazda away, tears filled my eyes and I got a huge lump in my throat.  Now part of this could have been a factor contributed by my current pregnancy, and the fact that Little Man ran to the dealership doors crying for the Mazda's return (though his tears may have been simply because he thought that his daddy was driving away with out him), but I thought about the 10+ years of memory we had with that car and the places it forged with us.  However, what struck me the most was the fact that I simply didn't get the opportunity to say my good-byes (yes, silly I know but it is true) to a tool that God had used to teach me more about how to be more Christ-like in love, grace and mercy.  The things that have happened with and to that car and how God used those experiences to mold me into a better Christian is what meant most to me as I have already shared some of those stories with you.  And I think it is okay that I cried.  When I look at pictures of that car from now on, I will remember that little, old, blue Mazda and the stories she and I could tell.  Farewell Mazda...sniff sniff sniff...sadly "Elvis has left the building" and may that car continue to "shake, rattle and roll" somewhere even if it is just in my heart and memories.