Countdown: ONE WEEK!

In just one week, we will be well on our way to the West coast. We look forward to imprinting memories of this road trip not only within ourselves, but within the wheels of Tellulah (the car). Tellulah is a new addition to our family of cars, and although there have already been fond memories made that will forever remain strapped behind her seat belts, we must take a moment and pay tribute to some other Dobkin-mobiles.  
For those of you that go significantly back in time with us, you probably remember our box on wheels--- the 1983 maroon Volvo that had become the signature Dobkin-mobile in our small hometown of Simsbury, Connecticut. 

The box on wheels was initially Mike's first car, which then got passed down to Em, which then got passed on to Dave, and then eventually just shared amongst the three of us...until I (Emily Hope Dobkin) unfortunately (and accidently) drove it to it's death in the Summer of '08 on the Atlantic City Expressway. Yet, memories still remain with us of that car---the roll down windows, the rust that began to coat the maroon paint, the faded bumper stickers that were beginning to peel; the ever changing floor of the car with remnants of sand in the the summer, leaves in the fall, and mud prints from snow boots in the winter. Moreover, there were heart to hearts between passenger and driver, and every emotion released resulting in both tears and laughter...all in the box on wheels. 

[ Volvo Glory: my final moments with the box on wheels ]

We not only share memories of the box on wheels,  but also memories of other cars that have been in the family; washing our father's Ford Taurus on hot sunday afternoons in the summertime, as well as digging it out in the wintertime; we remember the various Volvo station wagon's our mother has acquired---the dark gray one, the light gray one, the white one, and now the light green one. And of course we have fond (and not so fond) memories of our frequent road trips from Simsbury, CT to Philadelphia PA---everything from who was going to have sit in the middle seat; Em or Dave? Or, what car game to play; US Geography or Zoo Geography? And, what audio tape were we going to listen to---Mike's Billy Joel, Em's Ace of Base, or Dave's McGruff the Crime Dog: Songs about Safety and Keeping Kids of the Streets. 

[ Washing Dad's Ford]

[ The winter digs ]

It occurred to me recently that a car is much more than just a vehicle; it is a safe haven, a place in which I find comfort in after a long day; it's the thing that will get be from point A to point B, cruise further to point C, roll out to point D, and take me back home to point A; it is a place where I can get all of the worlds news, or just simply listen to music; it is a place where I can just sit and truly think about various things by myself or share moments of clarity with others; it is a portable piece of home. 
We will be spending much time in Tellulah next week as we drive across America, with much memories to be made.  It thrills me to think that once I am in Oregon, I  can say these wheels have been driven across the country; it's really going to give Tellulah an extra shine to her red-tango-pearl surface. 

One week until cross country memories are made within the wheels; one week...