Author: Patrick Rhone

Here is my car the day I test drove it. I went back to the dealership and bought it.

I have loved this car. Everything about it. It was so comfortable to drive. It was my daily driver and we’ve taken it across the country several times. For a 15 year old car with 170k miles it seemed to be just hitting its stride. It has served me well from daily commuting to errands to hauling 10 foot tall Christmas trees inside with the hatch closed (it had an amazing amount of interior room).

This car likely saved my life.

The guy at the collision place said that there was no way any other make of vehicle would have taken a drivers side hit that pushed the car along 15 feet by a fully loaded FedEx truck and had the driver walk away without a scratch.

The FedEx manager who came to the scene said he’s never seen a car do that much damage to the truck that hit it.

The police officer said for someone my age who has never even had so much as a moving violation, let alone an accident, I sure did pick a doozy for my first time.

I’m a bit sore this morning so will be going in for a check just to make sure all is actually well. That said, my heart is a bit broken at the loss. This was the car that Beatrix has been learning to drive and the plan was to give it to her to take to college. Those plans now have to change.

But, mainly, this is a public thank you to a car that brought me a tremendous amount of joy and utility over the years. It served me and my family gallantly.

My beloved Chevy truck will become my daily driver for now until the dust settles and I find a worthy replacement for the car. I’m thankful for that.

P.S. Thanks to all of the people, too many to name, who reached out to check on me and offer condolences. It means the world to me.