Dearest Minivan,
You and I have been together for 9 months now. Most people would say that around this time our honeymoon stage would be coming to a close. But they would be wrong. My love for you is stronger than ever before! It grows by the day and I don’t anticipate it slowing down any time soon. Let’s reminisce on the beginning of our relationship, shall we?
Don’t take this the wrong way, but before I met you, I didn’t think you were my type. My small SUV was adorable, a breeze to park, and so easy on the mileage. And you? Well, I am ashamed to admit it, but I felt I was out of your league. I didn’t look past the exterior to see the true beauty within, and for that, I apologize. There’s a stigma with your type, you know? Soccer mom, Target mom, play group mom, carpooling mom. I was afraid of the labels that our relationship would bring. Thank you for being so patient with me while I worked through that intellectual/emotional tug-of-war.
I remember the day I got over myself. After reaching out to a dear friend, a mother of 3, it all became so clear to me. I wanted what she had. I saw how easily her kids piled into her beloved. I admired how each of her kids could bring a friend and still have space for bags and jackets and even their precious pup. The doors would open and close swiftly with the click of a button, no chance of a door ding. The back seats would fold over, recline, DISAPPEAR. I was in shock! Oh precious one, at that moment I knew I must find YOU.
Thus began my search for my heart’s desire. Being 2014, I had to embrace the fact that it’s much easier to find love online. Auto Trader seemed cliché but a reasonable place to start. It took a couple weeks of searching before I found what I was looking for, but when I saw you on that iPhone screen the very first time, all my efforts became worth it. My eyes had never beheld such beauty! Sleek, black, 8 seater with everything I wanted-minus the DVD player and automatic back hatch. But I knew those umm…augmentations(?) could be discussed in the future if you were open to it. Sure, you had been with another family before, but we all come with some baggage, right? It wasn’t anything I couldn’t get past. So after 10 minutes together on the road I decided to make you mine.
Now, fresh relationships are difficult. It takes some time to adapt to one another and unfortunately that comes with some rough days. I will forever regret what happened in that Target parking lot our first week together. I lost control and hurt you in the process, and for that I will always feel terrible. I know, I know. I still owe you that bumper buff don’t I?
All in all, I couldn’t be more pleased with where we are. You totally get me – my short legs that don’t want to climb in order to load up my kids, my need for 36 cup-holders, my desire for some roll-around space with the third row down on date nights…I’m totally okay admitting that I was wrong about you. Even more, you have won over the entire family. The kids are always overjoyed to go on trips with you, and my husband will often fight me for the driver’s seat. Sweet spaceship, you are the road-protector of my kids, the one that makes my errands bearable, and the first thing I see when I walk out of the door in the mornings. Thank you for being exactly what I need and want in this crazy stage of life. I can only hope that you feel just as loved. I promise to be faithful until engine failure (or upgrade) parts us.
Yours truly,
Anna
