Katherine Dudley Hoehn
For the News-Leader
Katherine Dudley Hoehn
Seventy is 11 months away. On the first day of the 12 months leading up to my 70th, I spent my birthday in Amsterdam after a river cruise. It was a great place to kick off what I hope will be a year of monthly celebrations. I was surprised by a sparkler candle in my dessert.
To hail the second month of my 70th year, I replaced the Toyota RAV4 that I've driven for 17 years. It was difficult to say goodbye to “the old girl” who shared so many memories with my sons and me. Still going strong, she only had 126,000 miles on her, was healthy and didn’t act like a senior citizen. and was very healthy. Before they drove her away at the dealership where I traded her in, I lay my hands on her and prayed for the new owners, and for her good health and continued longevity
My new car, Annabelle, is another RAV4. If I keep her 17 years, she will be my last car purchase. After six grueling hours at the dealership negotiating, dealing with paperwork and reviewing options, I made my decision and I’m not looking back. That’s the theme of this year and the coming decade. I'm going to make decisions carefully, then respect them and not second guess myself.
Annabelle is a hybrid. Not fancy, she has the modern options new cars have that they didn’t 17 years ago, such as CarPlay and a backup camera. These are important in Florida, where there are many aging drivers who don't have quick reflexes, ignore stop signs and are confused by roundabouts.
My decision to replace the old girl was made when I nearly missed seeing an elderly woman shuffling in my blind spot in the Winn Dixie parking lot. Annabelle and her backup camera wouldn’t have missed her.
The old girl had also kept me from taking car trips she was too aged to be trusted. She was hanging in there, but I didn’t like staying so close to home. Annabelle gives me freedom yes to spontaneous adventures that are important as I cruise toward 70.
As I drove Annabelle home, I reflected on experiences I'd shared with the old girl:
- She carried Mom on her last visit to DeNucci's for an ice cream cone.
- She carried three family dogs, who are now asking Mom for treats in heaven, for occasional trips to DeNucci's for “pup cups.”
- She carried our beloved dog, Dallas, to his last visit to the vet, and led the funerial procession home.
- She carried my current dog, Leah, from her adoption at Nassau County Humane Society to her new home, and on many subsequent trips for "pup cups."
- Recently, she safely transported my grandchildren when they visited Fernandina Beach and their graham cracker crumbs were on the floor when I traded her in.
When you have a car for so long, it becomes a part of your family. You know its sounds and how fast you’ll be able to accelerate in traffic. And you have many fond memories of places you traveled together and people she served.
Now that I have a new car, I’ll be parking far from where she'll be dinged and backed into by clueless drivers. In Florida that happens often.
The next 10 months will be filled with memories and Annabelle will be right there with me.
Katherine Dudley Hoehn was raised in Florida, spent her career in Washington, D.C., and moved to Amelia Island six years ago. She’s finalizing the manuscript of an historical novel based on more than 1,000 family letters and is a member of the Amelia Island Writers. She posts her photography and stories at KatWritesandSnaps.com/blog.