My Longest Relationship Just Ended

I’ve had my car since senior year in high school. It was a graduation present from my Gramma for doing so well in school. It was used, and it leaked oil, but it was mine. And I will warn you, this post will be a bit sentimental.

My car quickly became my best friend. I bought her accessories, all Tinkerbell themed of course. I got the Mango scented air fresheners and the obligatory dice to hang from my rearview mirror. I decided smoking was not allowed inside, windows down or not.

She made me feel free. I had a way to get to work. I could hang out with my friends whenever I wanted. I could drive far, far away and not look back if I wanted to.

She came to college with me and became even more important. I was the only person in my group of friends with a car, so she was the center of all adventures. We drove to New York. We drove to Taco Bell at 2am. We drove while angry. We drove to Home Depot. We shared my first experience with sex while driving. We helped at least 4 people move. We drove while excited. We drove small children to the park when I was babysitting. We had a lot of good times.

She lovingly gained the nickname of the Shikar in college. Meaning car belonging to Shikole. She quickly earned a place in all my friends hearts as well.

One of the huge parts of growing up is change. Going away to school, graduating, moving. My car has been the most stable part of my life, and my friends, for over 6 years. I may have moved from home to dorm to house to apartment, but my car was always there for me. I might have changed jobs over and over again, but my car got me to every single one of them. She was reliable when I needed her to be.

Now she is gone. After over 6 years of loyalty and love I can’t justify paying to fix her again. And this has been the most upsetting week of my adult life. I am more upset about losing the Shikar than I was over my last breakup. She was more important to me than any man thus far has been. Not to mention that she has left me having to figure out a new plan, financially and for transportation. I’ve never depended on a person as much as I depended on my car.

I am sure I will move on from her eventually. I just hope my next car can fill the big empty hole the Shikar has left in my heart.