Pay It Forward

Today was the day Art and I got rid of our old green van.  The van was at a point where it would not pass inspection without expensive repairs. On one hand I was glad to get it out of the driveway but on the other I was sad to see it go.

What does one do with an old green van that has seen better days yet could still put many more miles on its wheels if someone were willing to put the time, resources and energy into it?  Donate it to the local vocational school.  That is what we did. We have done this in the past with and old washer and dryer set and my old Yamahopper moped- remember those. 

As I was cleaning out the van I was overcome with emotion.  My mind was flooded with memories of the many trips we had taken, the items we had hauled from one place to another and the number of kids and adults we had given rides to over the years.  I was especially overwhelmed with memories of our beloved Chelsea (K-9) who loved to go for rides, especially if they included a hike in the woods with us.   I was also filled with happy memories of car seats and grandchildren, as I vacuumed up fish crackers and Cherrios that were stuck in the folds of the seats.   As I finished cleaning out the van I gave her a pat on her tailgate and thanked her for being a good car.

So if you have need to get rid of an old vehicle that could still be used for parts or fixed and put back out on the road, we encourage you to call the vocational school in your area and ask if they will take them off your hands.  This is just another way of paying it forward.  Who knows a few years from now the mechanic who works on my newer van may have used my old one for a school project.