The Mom-mobile

I drive a 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette that recently turned 200,000 miles and looks every bit her age.  All the bells and whistles that drew me to her in the beginning have lacked the endurance of the rest of her.  Among the things that don't work anymore are the power locks, heated seats, rear windshield wiper, and the power slide side door. Only the power window on the passenger's side works, but I'm afraid to use it for fear I may get it down and not be able to get it back up.  And not having a functioning driver's side window makes using any kind of drive up or drive through impossible.  


My dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree.  The 'service traction control' light triggers the ABS light which triggers the 'service engine' light...all of which I long ago began ignoring.  The gas gauge doesn't even work anymore.  I don't know what I'll do if the mileage counter stops working because I'd never know when to fill up.


I have one rear seat that is stuck in a forward leaning position.  When I haul kids, everyone fights to not be the last man in and be forced to sit in the 'seat of doom'.  In fact, the dear young teen aged boys I generally cart to and fro have dubbed my beloved kid hauler the 'death trap'.  


But with all her flaws and despite her years showing through, I have quite the affection for my mom mobile.  She has proven herself faithful.  She can carry her own weight and that piled on her by those around her.  And she's long ago outlived her payment making her a solid asset rather than a liability.  With all that said, I think that old van of mine and I have a lot in common.


What I lack in luster, I make up for in longevity.  I may be short on style, but I'm long on substance.  I may be showing my age, but I've earned every gray hair and wrinkle.  And like my four wheeled friend, I have proven myself faithful...faithful as a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.  I can be a workhorse when need be and a comfortable companion on life's long journey.  I have become mature enough, wise enough and contribute enough to consider myself an asset to this world I live in rather than a constant drain on it.  I can carry a load, weather storms, run on fumes and endure the occasional neglect all moms experience from time to time.  And while I can't tell just how much gas is left in my tank, I feel like I have a whole lot of go still in me.