About seven weeks ago,
Sadie and Charlie led us to believe
that there were critters
under the hood of our lovely car.

Critters there were –
A family of mice
Built a hotel
Invited friends and family.
Then opened a Restaurant
that served the delicacy
Of what was our dream car.

They never left.
Where we went
They went.
Perhaps going on outings
Wherever we were.
New towns, new sights
But always finding their way back.

That car was going to take us
Well into the next chapter of our life.

The car that felt
Regal and elegant
With a dash board
that glowed in the night.
The one that made
You fell you were
not only in the parade
You were the parade.

Last week our friends
At State Farm
Determined that car
Was A TOTAL LOSS.

Not – just a little loss,
Not – maybe fixable
Not – let’s give it a shot
NOPE
Pick up your stuff –
We’re towing it away.

Today we drove up the hill
In a different car.
It’s lovely but not regal
It’s fun but not elegant.
In someway it feels like
It’s the start to a new chapter
Instead of entering the last.

Maybe our little mice friends
did us a favor.
Maybe they thought
We were too young
For an old man’s car.
Maybe they thought
We weren’t ready
for a coming to an end chapter.
Rather a pack up the car
We’re going on an adventure chapter.

We’ve had 45 years of adventures
Why would we ever stop now.