Suzie gets to go bye bye

 

For Christmas this year, we decided to let Suzie go for a ride on a big truck. Suzie has been a very good girl. She has been a member of our family since 1993, and has dedicated herself to our constant service ever since. She began as the chauffeur of our beloved Daddy, and after many years of faultless service, she escorted our kids to college. She watched over them one by one, starting with Shelli, then Bryce, then Kevin...After several years, she began having a few problems: with the altitude, with the cold, and then, unexpectedly, she developed a nasty habit of screaming out in the night. We think it was bad dreams, but nonetheless, Shelli had to jump out of her warm bed in the middle of the Utah winter to hold Suzie's steering wheel juuuuuuuust right so she would stop screaming. It was an upsetting time for all of us--not the least of which were the other tennants at Shelli's apartment building. Nonetheless, Suzie soldiered on. Her last trip to Utah was the longest. She had come to the point where she could no longer climb the big mountains, so we went around...slowly....And decided that she was exhibiting symptoms that pointed straight towards one thing--retirement. She had been a trouper. A low (okay "NO") maintenance friend and assistant to our college student children, and for that we will always love her. It seemed she needed to stay right here in sunny California year round and shuttle the last of her little charges around the High School scene. It seemed that all was well until one night when we came home from a family temple trip to find Suzie screaming at the top of her lungs-- no doubt because we had left her behind. We quickly drove her into the garage and shut the door, wondering when our neighbors would ever forgive us. Nothing could calm her. Nothing. Finally we had to call our friend, Mark-- a super hero who came right over to save the day...and the neighborhood. Shocked as we were, we admitted that his unholy plan was the only way. Her vocal chords must be severed once and for all. Oh, the pain. The guilt. The shame. We were all aghast at the unthinkable plan that was laid before us. And yet, there is nothing quite like a deafening blare in a small garage to make the words "Do whatever it takes" come out of one's mouth. She was silenced forever. Even if someone wanted to harm her precious cargo, she could not squeak out the weakest of protests. But what was done, was done, and we had to live with the consequences. She started her new duties with a quiet dignity, and life moved on. Soon, her grumblings were manifesting themselves in other, less ferocious ways... A squeak here, a knock there...Some ominous and alarming vibrations that even her personal physician could not diagnose. The writing was on the wall, and yet Suzie refused to give in. Then last night, she just decided it was time for a long winter's nap. Even with some jumper cables and a lot of enthusiastic encouragement, she just could not wake up. I admit to feeling a little lump in my throat as her unconscious carcass was loaded onto the big truck... She just needs a little R&R, I'm sure of it. Maybe the ride on the big truck will invigorate and breathe new life into her. Maybe. But one thing's for sure-- we love her and need her and appreciate her so much--and we don't take her for granted for one minute!

So here's to you, Suzy! Now......up and at 'em!!!!!!!!!!!! (PLEASE!!!!!!!)