I had to marry him to get it, or at least that’s how I like to tell the story. I had always wanted a Wrangler and it had seemed like kismet when James was driving one when we started dating. It was years before the Jeep became “mine”. That was when my car became Jacob’s and James became the proud owner of a truck. That was a win-win-win situation, for sure! That was many years ago now, and I’ve driven it ever since. I have loved summer days with the top back and winter days of dropping it into four-wheel and safely getting to where I was going without a worry. I have mastered the wave, even learning to discern those silly Jeep trucks who, in my book, don’t technically get the honor of the Jeep wave. James and I have driven more country roads together in that vehicle as we have house-hunted, farm-hunted, Sunday-driven and just killed time together looking at other people’s landscaping, barnyards and lifestyles from a roadside view. The Jeep has been our steadfast vehicle, never once requiring major mechanical work that was out of the range of James’ expertise. Today, she was sold to a new family, and it sounds silly, but I might have cried just a little. She was there from the very first day with us and now our garage and our lives will be Jeep-less.

It’s the right time to sell it, I know. We were given a very sensible, low-mileage vehicle by James’ mom, and it’s the responsible thing to keep that one and sell the old high-mileage Jeep while the used market it so hot. It makes sense. It does. We have been extraordinarily blessed by both the Jeep and the gifted vehicle. Selling the one and keeping the other is the responsible choice. But.

I’d like to say I’ll for certain own another. I’d like to say that. It might make me feel better if I convince myself of that, but I couldn’t have predicted that I’d ever have driven that one for as long as I have, or that I’d be driving a “sensible sedan” now, so I guess I’ll leave the certainties to someone else. For now, I’ll pat myself on the back for making the responsible choice and I’ll appreciate the money in the bank. But one of these days, it’s going to be my day to pick my vehicle again. I just hope this time, I don’t have to sleep with someone to get it.