I knew I had to have you the moment I laid eyes on you...

...you were about two tons... white... shiny... bigger than the others... and you came equipped with loads of upgrades like a Bose sound system and power everything. All the things that really matter to a girl like me. I looked at you and the earth stood still. It was like my destiny was fulfilled... I've never felt so right about anything in my life. Pathy, I know your time on this earth is short lived. I hear you crying when I start you up, and nobody seems to be able to figure out what's wrong with you. I just want you to know that the 128,845 miles we've spent together have been the best I've ever had. I will forever cherish each and every one of them for the rest of my life.

Pathy, you know I can't allow myself the luxury of reminiscing about the good times, because I just get too upset. You've escorted me as my date to some of the defining events of my youth. You've sped me out of countless bad situations (and into countless more!). You've sung along with me to everything from Justin Timberlake to Alice in Chains (I know how you love my Layne Staley voice).

Hey Pathy! Remember that time I bought you two new shiny doors when I randomly crashed you into the telephone pole at the end of my mom's street? Good times. I also loved the ease in which you ripped that concrete pillar out of the ground in Burlington when I backed you into it. Remember how it just laid there looking all stupid and broken after? You so kicked it's ass. Same goes for that pole at Bank of America in Melrose and the one at the Landmark Center in Boston too. (Okay and the wall in mom's driveway and that big rock last weekend too). For the record... I really thought we could fit in that spot at the Landmark and I'm sorry I broke your passenger side mirror. I promise I'll get it fixed soon! You were also a good sport about the time I crashed into you with the YMCA's Ford F 250 and broke your taillight also. Never a complaint out of you.

Ha! Remember that time you played that funny joke on me and didn't indicate that you were about to run out of gas and you left me stranded on 128 for an hour? So funny. I also like it when you play that game where you you lock me out of you while you're still running. Even though that happens fairly often, it still gets me going every time. But only you would know that. Although you weren't there for the major accident, you know... when I parked on top of that woman in the Honda Accord on the wrong side of the street -- that was your predeccessor 1992 Blazer -- I know you would have done me just as proud.

But I digress... Yesterday you took a turn for the worst and let me know you were slipping further away from me by telling me to "Check Your Engine". You did this once before, but that was just because I drove away and forgot to put your gas cap back on after I filled you. This time I just know it's different. I just don't think you're going to make it Pathy. I'm sorry I authorized that "experimental treatment" a few months ago where I allowed your mechanic to just weld together your tailpipe to the bottom part of your exhaust instead of springing for a whole new exhaust system. Money was a little tight that week... your gas is really killing me! $65 to fill you? Come on Pathy... what happened to $30?

Now that I know our time is coming to a close, I feel like I never got to know the you... I mean the REAL you beyond just P, R, N, and D. What really makes you tick Pathy? What do the extra numbers 2 and 1 after D actually stand for? I am regretful that in all these years, I have never taken the time to read your manual and really understand the real you. If we're being completely honest with each other Pathy, I'm beginning to feel that I can't rely on you anymore. What's up with the speeding tickets? You never did that before! I'm also a little upset about the warrant out for my arrest in the City of Lowell for failure to pay my excise tax. The $440 in parking tickets is another story all together. And just so there's no awkwardness -- I know you've seen me checking out other cars. I have a thing for Cadillac STS's and you know it. You've felt the brochures in your back seat and I know you've caught me looking at them on 93 S. I just want you to know I never meant to hurt you, but I know your time on this earth is short lived and I really need to start planning for my future without you. Trust me though, no car will ever have what you and I shared.

In closing Pathy - we're both getting older and we want different things. It's a natural transition... The Circle of Life, if I may. Your inspection is coming up, and I just don't think you're going to be able to make it through. I do wish you the best though. I just hope that I've been able to do you just as proud as you've done me. I'm getting all choked up here, but I'm really going to miss you Pathy!

R.I.P -- NIssan Pathfinder -- 1998 - 2006 "Pathy"


(written July 2006)