April and I being our silly selves in the Malibu - Summer 2005
I’m a very nostalgic person. I have lot of fond memories and they are easily triggered. This week it has been happening a lot as my husband and I have decided to sell my car. I know it’s not mine, but ours… it was given to us as wedding present from my parents. It was the car that they let me take off to college and in a lot of ways I have bonded with it. So many memories actually take place in the car. It seems strange to think of, but it’s true. I can think of the deep and meaningful conversations I’ve had in this car and the fun moments of being silly and singing at the top of my lungs!
Yesterday I drove my car into work and thought to myself this may be one of the last times I drive it. Turns out later that morning was Jeremy making plans to meet a lady in Tacoma to sell it. I associate driving in the car with my music. I was joking that I wished I had time to make a mixed CD of all the songs I wanted to hear one last time in the Malibu. While no special “Last Drive” CD was made, I spent the ride up to Tacoma popping CDs in and out of the player so I could have the same effect. However, the lady was a no show. I know Jeremy needs this car to sell before he can buy himself a new truck and I had worked myself up trying process the fact the Malibu would soon belong to someone else. It was a little bittersweet – more time with my car, but more waiting for it sell.
I was still in that place of wanting to relive the songs that I love in the car that I love. Truthfully, from my music choices I can tell that my taste in music is stuck right in the early 2000s. I popped in a CD that I loved from high school and rocked out on my way to dinner last night. One of the songs was all about getting ready to leave for college and that last day with all your friends before you all go in different directions. Back in the summer of 2004, I really connected with this song. This was my reality. The song was anthem of my situation. As I sang along last night, this line of the song really stuck out to me:
All the days we’ve been traveling together, I won’t even look over my shoulder till I find the cure for getting older.
Suddenly I felt old!!! Now I know at 26, I’m not old. But I sang these words 8 years ago! The song talks about not slowing down and being ready to move on to what’s next. In a way that’s what I’ve been doing. I went off to college in Portland, I got married, started working in ministry alongside my husband, bought a house, got a dog. Life keeps moving! However, unlike the writer of this song, I do stop and look over my shoulder from time to time. I’m amazed at how far I’ve come and how far I still have to go. I’m thankful for the memories I have. I’m even more thankful I’m still making memories with friends from that period of time in my life. There are people in my life who knew me deeply then and still know me deeply now. That is a gift I cherish!
So I might have been reliving those moments, those high school glory days as I drove to dinner last night with the music blaring in my car. They were good times. I keep thinking of the line “all the days we’ve been traveling together” – God has definitely been at the steering wheel guiding me. Some of the passengers in the car are newer friends, but some of them have been there a long time. Even though it might seem like those days are forever ago, I know they are sweet memories I choose to hold on to. I also know that I’m not done yet. Even if I’m not driving my trusted Malibu, there will be lots of deep conversations in the car and lots of singing at the top of my lungs. I can see God’s hand on all the days behind me and all the days still before me! I’m buckled up and ready to go!
Amy Scott's Thoughts 