The Army will only pay to have one vehicle shipped to Germany. And we're looking to downsize (a.k.a. "get rid of extra stuff") because our "stairwell housing" (a.k.a. "apartment") in Germany won't be large enough to hold all of our stuff. And those who know me well know that I'm a pack rat. We have accumulated a lot of stuff over the years.
But that's not the only reason we decided to give away our other car. My other car. We sent my 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara to California with Malu's brother.
In the years after I met Malu, we had given the Suzuki a name....Susie. People in the Army joke that when officers first become commissioned as Second Lieutenants into the Army, they go out and buy their "LT-Mobiles" (LT stands for lieutenant) because they will soon be making the supposed "big" paycheck. My classmates got Mustangs, big trucks and other muscle cars. All I wanted was my cute little Suzuki. I just thought they were so adorable.
So I got one in the Summer of 2001, the same month I was commissioned.
Not too long after that, I left home to start my "illustrious" military career. Susie took me all over the place...from Missouri to Georgia, then to North Carolina, then to South Carolina, then back home to Colorado and then here to Texas. Oh, and lets not forget all the traveling I did to visit Malu while he was stationed in Alabama. Susie really racked up miles then!
And you know what? I never had any problems with this car. I maintained her and cared for her like any proud car-owner would. Over 165,000 miles later (and years without having a car payment), we decided to pass her on to someone who could get as much use out of her as I did (and hopefully, to care for her as much as I did). Malu's brother is a college student who just needs to get from point A to point B from time to time. I didn't have that luxury in college and I wanted to make his life that much easier. And besides, we couldn't take her to Germany and my family has, like, five cars of their own. What else would we have done with her, other than sell her? I don't think I could have given her away to some stranger.
After spending Thanksgiving with us, Malu's brother (and his friends) drove Susie back to Pasadena. And no surprise, Susie got them there safe and sound. I miss her. Is that crazy? Knowing how sad I was to see her go, Malu thought to get a picture of us before she left.
So, goodbye Susie! Thanks for being so good to us and hopefully you'll still be chug-chuggin' along for a few more years to come!
