Ode To The Suburban

Written December 2023

I just watched our 2003 Suburban drive away for the last time. While I am sure our neighbors are glad it is gone, and to some extent I am, too, there is a bit of sadness in watching that faithful behemoth leave.

On a crisp, clear South Carolina winter day, I went to the dealership to get just the one I had been waiting on! I chose the model, the color, and every single bell and whistle! It even had On Star (back before all cars or even phones had GPS). I wanted it to be perfect, because as a mom of three boys, I was going to spend a lot of time in it! Back and forth to preschool, elementary school, middle and high school it went. Road trips across the country, lacrosse tournaments, basketball games. It shuffled as many kids as could safely fit to movies, fieldtrips, the park, the lake.

And then, years later, it took my middle son safely back and forth to boarding school until he graduated and moved to the West Coast, when it started taking my youngest son safety back and forth to high school his last year.

We drove it from South Carolina to Washington State when we moved. And from there, it was again driven by the middle son in downtown Seattle at the U. How in the world he was able to find parking or navigate in a city more familiar with Subarus and Teslas is a mystery to me! And then, again it reverted to the youngest as he drove it over the mountains back and forth to Gonzaga University. It stepped up to the cause last year when a family friend woke up to find her car stolen…she happily drove it for a while. Most recently, when my daughter-in-law’s dad was in town for a long visit, it carried him back and forth to work.

And then, alas, no one needed it anymore. Smaller, newer cars took its place, little boys grew into men. Parents became grandparents with no need for such a vehicle. It was faithful, reliable. I picked it up with three miles on its odometer. It drove away with over 200,000! Despite its cracking leather seats and faded bumper stickers, I loved it. It was the quintessential mom car of the early 2000s. It was comfortable and drove like a luxury car. It was full of memories, memories that I cherish. And so, faithful Suburban, be good to your new owner. Get him where he needs to go until you have nothing left to give. Thank you! You will be missed!

Until next time, I am Living Between the Scans.