One Year Removed

If you need to be caught up on my love life, and who truly owns my heart please first refer back to my heartbreak of last Valentine's Day

A year removed from my traumatic day in which I watched my first true love be towed away, we are doing okay. There have been ups and downs, highs and lows, we have been through snow storms, potholes, Ohio back roads, and hour long summer commutes to downtown Detroit, and through it all, our bond has grown stronger.

Neither of us are perfect, sometimes the radio doesn't come on the first time I start her up, sometimes I hit a curb, every so often. But she is always there for me. No matter the journey, no matter the obstacles, I know I can always count on her to get me where I am going and keep me moving forward.

When I look back on a year with one of the few constants in my life I am reminded of so many different things. Most recently I am reminded of my micro class in which we talked about selling points, and the question of at what dollar amount would you sell your car came up. We are college students and the range of cars throughout the room was very broad. When it came to me however, I stunned the room at this point in my life when I said, I would not sell my car. The memories and the story behind my car, means more to me than any dollar amount ever could.

I am not saying that our journey together will never come to an end. In my experience, all great relationships come to an end. It takes exceptional relationships to survive and thrive through life together. 

As I continue on with my journey and hopefully she continues to be a part of it, she teaches me lessons everyday.

1. Never take her for granted.

2. When she needs something do your best to give it to her.

3. Spoil her, if she needs a new outfit or she deserves a new accessory give it to her.

4. The more you give, the more you will receive.

5. Always remember that no matter the relationship, it is never always going to be perfect. But, if it is important to you, you make it work.

The Heartbreak of My Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day, or St. Valentine’s Day is a holiday when lovers express their affection with gifts and attention. The holiday began in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, beginnizng in mid-February. The festival which originally celebrated the coming of spring. Included the pairing off of women with men by lottery. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day. It came to be celebrated as a day of romance. 

Everyone celebrates Valentine's Day in their own ways. In my case the closest I have ever been to having a valen tine was in elementary school when everyone made special boxes and brought little candies in for the entire class. This year however I suffered my first real heartbreak on Valentine's Day. 

My one true love left me. Did I treat her poorly? Yes I took her for granted and now I must pay the price. Will I get her back? Yes. That however is not the point. I have been with her for over 3 years she is my first true love. Her name, Aspen. Aspen is a 2016 Blacked out Chevy Colorado.

My first car! My grandmother made it a priority of hers that her youngest grandchild would get the first car they wanted. She put away money starting at my 10th birthday. Her along with myself were able to make that dream a reality. I was able to put money in the stock market and make the money needed to make the monthly payments on the car of my dreams.

Aspen has now had to face the brutality of the Ada winters. I let her down. I left her low on gas and outside as brutal temperatures hit the Village of Ada. She suffered a cracked valve due to ice buildup. This Valentine's Day I had to give her up and send her into the shop.

Aspen and I have been through good days and bad. She has carried district trophies and tears. She has held dance parties in her tailgate. She has slid off roads in ice. No matter the circumstances. The hula girl that sits on her dash and Mickey Mouse lining that covers her wheel and the feeling of driving my first car will always be my escape and will always have my heart.