August 2020: Car Shopping

Jordan-

Our new car reminds me of our relationship. As I look in the rear view mirror, I think about how far we’ve come. As I look out at the road ahead, I’m excited about what awaits us. As I look at the design of the 2019 Honda Pilot Elite, I see a symbol of who we are.

Because today on our third wedding anniversary, I’m not afraid to admit it. We may try to look cool like an SUV on the outside, but we’re a straight up minivan on the inside. And while the “Elite” model may be wishful thinking, I’m grateful that you’ve upgraded us in every way.

When we met at Penn State, I was a wannabe rapper and a newly appointed Frat Social Chair, but you saw right through me. I had a few miles on my odometer, but you did your own inspection and ultimately signed off on my condition. I tried to show you a flashy exterior, but you opened up my doors and showed me a life full of car seats, Captain’s chairs, and a folding third row with plenty of cargo room for strollers, toys, and diaper bags. I tried to give off vibes of speed, horsepower, and off-roading capabilities (not really, but go with it for the metaphor), but you fell in love with my safety features. So it’s not surprising that our car search went the exact same way. We were initially attracted to the SUV look, but felt at home with the minivan vibe.

Now, regarding the “Elite” model, we certainly didn’t start out this way. 10 years ago, we began our relationship with the basic package. It got the job done, but definitely needed some upgrades. We’ve gone from leaving beer cans all over our tattered college apartment floor to vacuuming Cheerio crumbs off of our new black on black leather interior. We had cold stretches early on in our relationship, but now we have heated seats and a sunroof to keep things warm along the journey. We’ve drifted off course at times in the past, but now we have lane assist to point us back in the right direction. Little by little and year after year, we’ve upgraded each feature of our relationship to go from “Basic” to “Elite,” just like our Honda Pilot.

Our three years of marriage have been the ride of a lifetime. As we continue our journey from this new car, I’m confident that it will keep getting better from here. Because my view from the driver seat is the most beautiful scene in the world. I see Charlie chirping away to the tune of “Hakuna Makata” in her car seat. I see an empty car seat waiting to be filled by our newest member of the family in just a few weeks. I see extra space in the back for friends and family to hop in for a ride. I see my favorite passenger riding shotgun holding my hand with her left and picking the next song with her right (all too often Taylor Swift). I like the way the car looks on the outside, but I love the way it feels on the inside.

I’m looking forward to the memories we make in our new Honda Pilot. I’m excited for the new passengers and precious cargo that we fill it with. I’m ready for the sing alongs, the road trips, the treks down the shore, and all of the soccer games. Because we have the vehicle and the relationship to do it all. So buckle up because I can’t wait to see where this road takes us!

Happy Anniversary,

Kevin