New Family Addition

I am so forlorn. It is with the deepest sorrow and greatest despair that I write this post. Alas, I will wipe away my tears and although the memory will still be with me, I will hopefully get over it. Somehow!
After hearing a horrendous noise from Beautiful Bobby when we turned, we decided to take him to our old friends Car X.
The prognosis: Bobby's frame is rusted out.
Approximate cost to fix: $1200.00 (only for partial fix)
Approximate value of Bobby: $500 (assuming he is in excellent condition - rust seems to indicate that he is not in excellent condition)
Overall decision: Trade Bobby in (if someone takes him) for something newer that will last longer and be worth the investment.

Now the fact that we had to buy 2 new or "new" cars within 4 months of each other is not what makes me feel sorrow - that's just called bad luck. We knew that our '92 Bobby was old, but we were hoping he would at least last a little longer.
No the reason for my melancholy feelings is that Beautiful Bobby is my baby, my wheels, MY truck! He has been with me through thick and thin. He was the first vehicle I owned - the one in which I learned how to drive. The truck I've been driving for 10 years.

Before I go on to tell you what we replaced Bobby with, I must first make a tribute to Beautiful Bobby. First off, I must always remember his special song:

(To the tune of Beautiful Dreamer)

Beautiful Bobby, Bobby Beigey.
Beautiful Bobby is so good to me.
Unless I run him into a tree
Then Beautiful Bobby will be history

Do not fear now Bobby Beigey
I will not run you into a tree
We will be happy as happy can be
Oh Beautiful Bobby, oh Bobby Beigey

Beautiful Bobby, oh can't you see
That you are the only man for me
You and me are so complimentary
Oh Beautiful Bobby, oh Bobby Beigey

Beautiful Bobby, you are the best
You excel far more than the rest
Sorry I ran you into the lake
Oh Beautiful Bobby that was a mistake

Beautiful Bobby, please understand
We must make room for another man
friends with Bruce (and Frank) you must be
Oh Beautiful Bobby, oh Bobby Beigey

Beautiful Bobby, together we'll fly
You and me, and my other favorite guy
Across the country, we will roam
Oh Beautiful Bobby make Illinois your home.

Side note: (vs. 4 was written after I slid off the road around Thanksgiving time. vs. 5 was written after I met and married Bruce. vs. 6 was written on the long drive to Illinois when we moved.)

Dear Bobby:
I will miss you entirely too much. I will never forget you or the memories we shared so blissfully together. Let me take a moment to reflect on our many adventures together.
Do you remember when: Dad and I named you Bobby. Travis thought you were ugly. I thought you were beautiful, so you have been named that ever since - Beautiful Bobby!
Do you remember when: I drove you for the first time by myself to volleyball practice and you stalled at the busiest stop light. Do you remember how scared I was and how blissful it was when I finally got the hang of driving you.
Do you remember when: I drove all 3 of my siblings and my mom home from a game because my mom's car broke down.
Do you remember when: you helped me move to Logan for college, and your spare tire fell from its carrier underneath and dragged across the freeway? You gave my mom, sister, and I quite the scare.
Do you remember when: we hit that stupid pheasant on the way to work and it took out a section of your grill guard?
Do you remember when: we slid off the road the day after Thanksgiving because we were trying to get back for a USU basketball game. Remember how you had to spend a week in the shop getting your undercarriage fixed, and I had to spend the night at some strangers house in Lakeview, Ut. She had cats everywhere, and I'm allergic!
Do you remember when: we went camping with my roommates in the middle of winter - you sure were brave through all that snow.




Do you remember when: you went snow shoeing with Katie and I and Katie's snow shoes somehow got connected together and she blamed me for tripping her.
Do you remember when: I first took Bruce in you to meet my parents. When we arrived, Travis came out and started kicking you and dad gave you a great big hug before he even hugged me. Then dad proceeded to say to Bruce, "so you're the cradle robbing dragon."
Do you remember when: I finally decided to let Bruce drive you (10 months after we were married)? Do you remember how patient we had to be and how much stress we dealt with while we both taught Bruce how to drive stick shift?
Do you remember when: I let a brother from our ward borrow you, and it took him 15 minutes (and multiple times killing the engine) to get out of the parking lot. Do you remember how nervous I was when I left in a different car to go to the bank, and he still hadn't been able to actually leave the parking space before I got back? I had to give him a quick reminder of how to drive you.
Do you remember when: you took Bruce to the farm every day at 5:00 am and carried all of his samples for him. You were brave to not only rough the snow, but be content enough to stay parked at the farm with all those smelly cows for hours upon hours a day?
Do you remember all those other unfortunate birds that too soon had to meet their maker.
Do you remember all those other people you helped and how much I hoped you wouldn't miss me too much when I started to drive Frank to work (now Buzz)
Do you remember when I sang to you all those times I drove you.

Finally, do you remember when Travis incorrectly decorated you across from the stadium at USU. Or when dad left you that University of Utah crazy fan doll stuck to your mirror for my birthday.




Or... the time when Travis, Otto, dad, Katie, and grandma (yes even grandma of all people) sabotaged you completely. (See pictures below)



Finally, I will always remember your funny quirks:
1) The torn up driver's seat that we tried to duct tape together once. That worked until the temperature got too hot and duct tape melted all over my pants. The towel only worked for a little while.
2) The 2 gigantic cracks in your windshield - it really added personality and was the reasons for getting you Wyoming license plates.
3) How we had to pound the speakers on the door to get them to work
4) How the radio would automatically turn off every time you went over a bump.
5) How the side view mirrors flopped in the wind and never stayed put - even when the wind wasn't blowing.
6) The Bobby "squeak." You used to say goodbye every time I turned off the ignition and exited the vehicle.
7) The cream of the crop - the tail gate that only I had the special powers to open with the magic kick from the inside of the bed.

Those were the good times. Times I will look back on with fondness, happiness, and laughter. Even though we have replaced you, I will never forget the memories we shared. I may enjoy driving the replacement, but he still won't mean as much to me as you.

I must admit that I did have a few tears trickle down my cheek when I pulled up to the dealer to trade him in. I will miss my truck, but remember the memories we shared.


With that said and all condolences in order......



Welcome to the family Bernard!

Side note: I may be sad, but probably not as sad as Bruce's younger sisters who won't be able to hear me sing the Bobby song anymore.