Dear Bob,

Mom and Dad told me about the day they bought you at the dealership when I was a baby.

Everyone was so excited, and I giggled in my car seat.

They said that your paint sparkled in the sun, your seats felt feather-soft, and you had that new-car smell that made Mom and Dad act like us kids on Christmas morning.

Every car deserves a name, so when I could talk, I called you Bob. Bob stuck with the rest of the family, too. It fit.

STRONG, fun, trustworthy, Bob.

We’ve made so many memories with you . . .

At the Wichita Annual Dance, putting on regalia.

You didn’t seem to mind. Sorry about that!

And the other stuff we spilled or splashed or dropped . . . Sorry about that, too.

On our vacation from Oklahoma to Grand Teton when we spotted the moose in the bristly sagebrush. Mom yelled, “Get in the car now!” And you sped away so fast!

Then you took us to Yellowstone, where Old Faithful shot up to the sky right on schedule.

You drove us to visit Aka:h in the Smoky Mountains—which the Cherokee call Shaconage— before she got sick.

You were close when she watched us at Sliding Rock. The water was so cold, it took our breath away.

Dad had said, “The water is just fine!” Brrr. Grrr. He thought that was soooooo funny.

You were there when we walked down to Looking Glass Falls. That was the day Grandma last remembered things about Grandpa. We stood in the spot where they had their very first date.

You got us to Casey’s baseball games, and Abby’s lacrosse tournaments, and the Oklahoma State Fair.

To school.

To the library.

To friends’ houses.

You took us to the hospital when Jenna was born, and then when we brought her home, you were with us.

You drove us to show Jenna off at Auntie Deidra’s house, where all the cousins gathered round to celebrate her birth with Indian tacos and strawberry cake.

You were a big part of our family, always waiting to take us on another adventure or drive us home. When your paint got dull or dirty, we washed and shined you up real nice.

When you needed a tune-up or repair, Mom and Dad were there.

When we got into a fender bender, you kept us safe, and we took care of you then, too.

But when families grow, sometimes they need bigger cars.

We will never forget you, Bob. So:ti:c?a for the memories.

Love always,