Bye-Bye Betsy

She's become like one of the family ~
Complete with her own name.

Betsy, as she is affectionately known by many (yes, it's true),

has been faithfully transporting us around for over twelve years now.
We bought her with 47,000 km on the odometer ~ she was seven.

We owned a Jetta prior to acquiring Betsy ~ however, 
since it only had five seats, it couldn't accommodate our growing family.
Notice the length of time we've had the van?  
It's not a coincidence that Emma is exactly the same age.

Just over two years ago, we added another used vehicle to our fleet.

Up until that time, however, Betsy was the only 
means by which we got from A to B.

Well, if you don't include legs, 
bicycles, roller blades, or scooters.  She was it.

Howie, in particular, is attached. 
He is sentimental about all she represents.
And, when it comes right down to it ~ so am I.

We've gone through the mountains with her.

We've gone on many, many, family outings with her.
We've logged nearly 200,000 km in the twelve years she's been ours.

The boys all were loaded up with hockey gear and
transported to and from games many times over the years.

Emma came home from the hospital as an infant in her ~

Betsy was all she ever knew until she was nearly ten.

Austin learned to drive on her.

Calvin has been learning to drive on her as well.

There are many benefits to having a vehicle like this up the drive.

But, we don't need two vehicles.  Up until two years ago,

we were a one vehicle family.  It was a good thing.

When it came time to sell her, we discovered that (on Craigslist)
she would only fetch about $500 ~ she was worth more to us than that!

And, at the time, she had almost six months of 
pre-paid insurance coverage.
It didn't make sense to sell.  So, we didn't.

It was a blessing, as that was just about the time when we
would benefit from having two vehicles the most.
Austin ended up being admitted to Children's Hospital in heart failure.
Howie and I were able to take shifts between our 
oldest son in the hospital, and our three younger children at home.

We often would pass each other going opposite directions on the highway.
He drove Betsy, and I drove the new-to-us vehicle.  Was't that sweet?  :)

Once that crisis was over, we kept Betsy on the road.
Austin got his N, and had the freedom to drive on occasion.
He took his sister and brothers to the library or the book store.
He ran errands and had a little freedom because of Betsy.

If he hadn't been so sick, he would have walked.



Just prior to the acquisition of our new-to-us second van,
we added up all that Betsy had cost us over the years, and we decided...
no more!  It was frightening how much we'd poured into her.
We did, however, put new brakes on after that decision.  Brakes are necessary.

Recently, as we anticipated paying for another year of insurance,
we number crunched and decided that having two vehicles 
in our family at this time is an extravagance.  Not a need at all.
So, we put her up for sale on Craigslist.  And, she sold!

It is a bittersweet parting ~ Betsy's been good to us.
But, she no longer is required.  It no longer makes sense to keep her.
We are sad to see her go.  She's been a blessing.

What about you?  Do you have a "Betsy" story to share?
Do you name your vehicles, or, are we the only ones? 
I know we aren't.  C'mon now...'fess up!  ;-)

Please tell us all about your own "Betsy" in the comments section
of this post, or on your own blog.  Do let us know if you post about it,
so we can be sure to come by and visit.

Many Blessings,
Camille