An Open Letter to My VW Beetle

Dear VW Beetle,

Now that our time together has now come to an end, I thought it appropriate to write you a letter as one last goodbye.  You see, you are special to me.  Other vehicles would come and go, but you were the one constant for over a decade. 

We'll always have those memories.  When I learned how to drive, you were there.  You forced me to learn how to drive on a manual five speed and made my driver's test that much more nerve wracking.  I will forever know how to drive a manual because of you.  That makes me cool, only compared to those who cannot drive a manual.  Sorry I kind of loved you and hated you because of it, but I only hated you in traffic and on really steep hills.

We've been through the good times and the bad. 
Good: Road trips. Joy rides with friends. Getting me anywhere. Comfortable seats that know my rear better than anyone.  Sorry future owners.  Just kidding.  Good air conditioning, until a year ago which would go into the bad category.  Encouraging violence by watching kids run and hit someone playing slug bug, or is that bad?
Bad: Two terrible vanity plates, before we realized vanity plates are really lame.  It took us a few years.  Sorry for the embarrassment that brought you, and me.  That time a deer ran into us and smashed the windshield and the whole side in.  That time I ran over a huge landscaping block and all your innards were spewed out onto the road.  One cupholder.  Multiple cups. 

Now our time has come to an end.  I can't help but think how much has happened over the last ten years.  Old friends and new friends have come and gone.  Several moves-one across country.  Graduations.  New jobs.  Everything in between.  Life.  Time has flown by and stood still, if that's possible. 

It was time. To say goodbye.