My new car for life: Camilla

My new 2006 Subaru Outback. Isn't she handsome?

RIP 2002 Mazda Protege

Today, almost exactly three years from the day she became mine, I said goodbye to my Mazda Protege. It wasn't until I had to remove the roof racks that I knew that this was really the end. We had a lot of good times together -- we went to the mountains, and to a lot of rivers, and to the Okefenokee Swamp. We got stuck in mud and sand sometimes, but we always got out, and we had a few accidents, but they were always reparable.

It doesn't really look that bad, does it? I kept walking around it and sat in the driver's seat and thought, "this car isn't gone."

On July 29, at approximately 3 p..m., in a light rain at the corner of Bronough and Gaines, a red Toyota Corolla ran a red light and smashed into us, fore and aft. I remember thinking "What is happening?" and then "This is going to be okay."

She gave her life but kept me safe. That's what I call a really good car. I will miss her.