And so goes Sarah...

Honestly, I'm really torn at the moment.

Yesterday I had a bit of an "episode" with my car.  She hasn't been running right for the past few months.  The electrical system is having problems, she's leaking/burning oil, and she's having transmission issues.  All told, it seems a bad situation.  But, she only has 111k miles on her.  Which, for a volkswagen, isn't a lot.  And there are so many things about her that I love.  She's still zippy when she needs to be, her alignment is top-notch, her exhaust is still going strong, and she still enjoys hugging turns.

So, what's the point of this post?  Well, after continuing issues, last night, a third spark plug of her four spark plugs fouled due to leaking valve seals.  I was so pissed off, I kicked a dent into the left-front quarter panel.  I was not happy, but I regretted it almost instantly.  She's such a good looking car, and that ding was unnecessary. 

I bought Sarah in the summer of 2004.  She was four years old at that point, and had 75k miles.  She was a manual (awesome), had hand-crank windows, a working A/C, and held the road like nobody's business.  The only drawback, at the time, was that she was red.  I wanted blue.  Oh well.  I had a myriad of financial issues because of her, but, they passed.  Last year, she became mine, free and clear.  Anyway, I grew to like the color.  It wasn't that stupid sporty red I despise, but a deeper, almost brick red color.  After a while, I grew to like the distinction, since there were almost no other Jettas on the road in that color.

When I first drove her down to my parent's place, she didn't have a name.  While on the highway, around 70-75 mph, she developed a slight wobble (which was eventually taken care of).  As I pushed her a little faster, the song "Sarah" by Jefferson Starship started playing on the radio, and the Jetta smoothed out on the road.  I took it as a sign that she liked the name, so Sarah she was christened. 

I had a lot of fun in the Jetta.  It was my first car.  I can remember, at one point, realizing that I owned my own car, and I didn't have to worry about whether or not I had my parents' permission to take the car for a function.  Hell, if I wanted to, I could just hop in and drive anywhere I felt like (I never did, much).  It was an impressive feeling.  I still get that feeling while driving sometimes.

Getting emotional over an inanimate object seems kind of strange to some people.  "Oh, it's just a car."  Well, in a way, that's true.  But think of it this way; did you ever have a favorite toy when you were a kid?  One that you always played with, and kept with you everywhere you went?  Remember what it felt like when you finally had to give it up?  Well, this isn't exactly like that, but close to it.  I have a lot of memories, sweat, elbow grease, and time in that car.  I now get a little less enjoyment out of driving, since I bought my bike, but, there are still times when I climb into the Sarah's driver's seat and get a thrill out of driving her.

I don't know.  Part of me knows that it's time to give her up; but a big part of me doesn't want to.  It will be very hard getting into her and going on that last drive to the dealership.  I think a full series of pictures is needed; to keep a record of her.

Catch you all later!