RIP Tommy

In the year 2000, I inherited my grandmas 1985 Toyota Camry. It was a great looking car that had only been driven to the grocery story and back...with a total of 35,000 miles.Tommy, is its name even though I never call him that, went on many adventures with me those first few years. It took me faithfully up to the mountain whenever I needed. I remember a trip I took to home to Vancouver, for Thanksgiving. The drive back to SLC turned into a blizzard, but Tommy pushed through and we made it back. Then there was the time I picked up a TV star and we had lunch in Boise.

St George was a favorite place to head with my friends and cousin. Once we stopped and picked up some lost Dogs that threw up all over the place, I sometimes wonder if the smell ever left Tommy.
In 2002, I headed off to the great land of Texas, and Tommy headed over to Pullman, where my Matt and Cat, aka AK Mowers, took care of him. They too went of many adventures to Vancouver, Glacier National Park and all over The Great Palouse.It didn't take long til AKers family started to grow and they needed a larger car. So the decision was made, without my knowledge but heck I guess I was in Texas, for the switch to be made, Nick gave the Ford to the Akers and he took over Tommy.

I'm not sure where Tommy went with them, I'm thinking it probably left the country for the first time to Canada. It was safely returned to me when I came back from Texas. Nicks sure left a mess in the trunk...after dragging around his wet pond equipment. It left a never ending smell and muggy air. But I was grateful to have him back. You just can't put anything in the trunk.Tommy went all over Washington visiting family, a long road trip to Las Vegas, San Diego and up to SLC. He then sat dormant for a while as I went off to AK. But he was ready and willing to go when I moved back to UT.
There Tommy kept pulling through, with more trips home and down to southern UT where the red sand never goes away.

In the winter of 2007 Tommy received a clef lip when a trailer hitch ran into him, or may he ran into it. I can't tell you how many alternators Tommy went through. Driving home from the STP Tommy died in the middle of Idaho. That was an adventure, and only the beginning of the alternator problems. Somewhere in between all this the antenna was stolen a few hub caps were lost and the grill ended up missing.In 2008 it was time to move back to Vancouver...Tommy was packed full and almost ready to bust. With the radio on I headed North. People judge Tommy more up here...but they didn't know the history and stories Tommy had, so I tried not to blame them. The winter was ruff. Tommy needed a good warm up, but he still kept pulling through.

I new Tommy was getting old the day I was in Portland. I had just left REI and went to reverse out of my parking spot. Tommy didn't move. I took him to the local transmission guy and found out to patch him up it would be $900. Tommy just wasn't worth that much. But I didn't give up on him. I found ways to drive and not go in reverse. Yes it does take more skill but you can do it. I had decided that I wouldn't let Tommy go until he was completely dead.

Just the other day at work Katie was talking about donating her car to get the tax reduction. I told her she should donate it to me, But that doesn't work. Katie then said heck I'll sell it to you for $100. My first question was, Does it reverse?, yep and it goes forward, has a radio and CD player, free of any dents, and the list goes on.
I have to say I kinda felt bad for giving up Tommy before I said but he was getting a little dangerous to drive, and I'd be stupid to pass up a deal like this. So with $100 bucks less in my pocket I have a new, but used 1995 Dodge Neon.

Now I can really save for my Mini Cooper. Thanks Tommy for all the great times.