The Aztek

The first time I saw one, I wanted one. It was just so cool to me, so different. It was perfect for me, it fit me. It was an SUV, but not. It was roomy, but wasn't the size of a landyacht. It had a good strong engine, but didn't chug gasoline. It was built for tailgating. The tailgate actually had seats and cupholders. Many were built with speakers and radio controls in the back. It had all kinds of hidden storage for the little things. The sound system was great for not being Bose.

On September 27, 2003, I finally bought one. I wanted the champagne color and a sunroof, but the dealer cut price to get me to drive off the lot with the one they had. It was the top of the line Aztek, had a DVD player, the cooler in the console. They put a trailer hitch on it for me, and the car was mine. Few days in my life compare to how happy I was the day I got the Aztek. My first destination? An Illinois football game to tailgate.

It has been my true companion since. It took me to Seattle, through the mountains in January. It took care of me the day there was 2" of ice on I-5. It took care of me going to Canada to get curling supplies. It took me from Seattle to Blairsville without a problem. It has taken me to and from Chicago 5 or 6 times. When it blew a tire in Harden, MT, it made the phone call to onstar so that I could get a tow truck, when my cell phone couldn't get a signal. It took me to Chatsworth, GA 2x a week so I could relearn to wrestle. It kept Laurel and the dogs safe when Flynn the overcurious border collie tried to close one of the windows on his neck, and Laurel went into a ditch trying to lower the window. It made trips to Atlanta easy. All the while, it did it in such a way that I have never been more comfortable in a car.

And in one last act for me, it absorbed almost all of the energy, when I apparently dwelled a little too long looking in the rear view mirror and didn't see the guy in front of me slamming on his brakes to avoid a woman turning left. I hit my brakes but it wasn't enough. Me? I have a bump on my head and my neck and back are sore, and considering the airbag didn't deploy that's not bad at all. The Aztek though... hood is crumpled, radiator is busted, front end is FUBAR, and the front axle might be broken. I don't think it's going to make it.

I've had more than one person tell me "that's what insurance is for." I understand they mean well, and I understand that since I have collision insurance I will be able to replace the car. What they don't understand is that the connection you have to something is often based upon the happiness it brings you. It could be a person, a pet, but in this case for me, it is to a car. The car I wanted from the moment I saw it and was able to get. This car brought me happiness, it brought me peace, and for that matter, peace of mind. I thought I had another 5-10 years with this car. Alas I do not.

So I will have to go the path of buying a new car. I will do everything in my power to get another Aztek, as many dog owners go out of their way to get the same breed as the dog they lost. It won't be easy, because they don't make Azteks anymore (2005 was the last model). It's still the car of my dreams.