In Memoriam: RIP

The Grand Am won't pass inspection, and so it is time to bid farewell to a car that has always been in my family. My family wondered if it would make it through medical school (it's a 1993 car, and I graduated in 2006). Well, it made it through the first two years of residency, including drives from SLC to Tucson, and the following year to Houston (even if each of the drives the car died).

On the way to Tucson I was headed out of Flagstaff and broke down about 50 miles away. I had to call a tow company that took 5-6 hours as I recall to come, because there was a large crash involving a semi that used up the town's towing capacity, and had disrupted traffic. I was not happy after sitting in the Arizona desert for a few hours in June, without a significant amount of water. (Turns out a radiator hose blew, and then sprayed all over the alternator and killed it.)

On the Houston drive, I found that if I tried to sustain a speed more than 60 or 65 mph that my car would give up and I'd have to pull off. (Not a fun way to travel through west Texas).

Moving (Part II - The Drive)

Friday

So we began the trek to Texas. Elena left Friday afternoon/evening, while I waited until after work to leave (didn't leave until 9 O'clock that night).
We drove to our first stop in El Paso. My car broke down twice on the drive to El Paso, it would lose all power and I'd pull to the side, wait a while, and it would start again.

In El Paso we slept in since I got in so late. On my way out I only broke down 3 times, and managed to keep my car going by not using the air conditioner, and by keeping my speed at 65mph. It's a very painful drive across Texas, in June, with no AC, and being limited to 65mph even though the limit is 75.

Saturday

We were making progress in our 1000 mile journey and Elena needed a rest. I suggested that she take her rest and I continue ahead at my tortoise-like pace for her to catch up. Well, in her stop, she temporarily lost track of Beast and enlisted help of a state trooper until he was finally found under some of the stuff in her car. He suggested that she not go any further tonight, so we ate some good beef at a restaraunt and stayed in a seedy little motel in Ozona.

Sunday

We woke up early to get the keys to our house from Evan, who was so nice to meet us in a Target parking lot in downtown Houston. We drove to our new house, took showers and got ready for our first visit to our new ward.

All in all an eventful trip, with many memories. Not one I'd like to replicate exactly, though.