Ode to my Honda Civic

I remember the first time we met
trapped in the back of the lot
a color I didn't want
Somehow I knew it was love
The dental floss I found on the passenger seat told me you were well cared for
I vowed to do the same

I'm sorry for all the times I scratched your paint
scraping you against the garage door
bolts of other cars leaving their permanent indentation on your rear bumper
I wish I could go back in time and be more careful

You were always so good to me
A place to rest, to hide, to think
Carrying me to the four corners of the country
Listening to me sing, cry and pray
Getting me through snow storms - even when I spun you around
You protected me from my carelessness and impulsive behavior

You were there on the most important night of my life
traveling bravely through pounding rain
brand new car seat strapped in the back
soon to be filled with a screaming little boy
(he never liked you - must have been a bad first impression)

Things started to change after that
You were always enough for me
but not enough for our growing family
Passengers squeezed against the stiff plastic
I knew in my heart
the time had come to move on
love someone new

I remember the night I cleaned out your insides
Saying goodbye to an old friend
Who knew more about who I truly am than most humans
I thought you would be in safe hands

And then
The phone call
Who would have ever thought it would hit me the way it did?
Anger, regret, a feeling of loss
Is it strange to mourn a car?
I had to forgive
Let go
Realize that perhaps you were only meant for me

I drive a minivan now
Making new memories with my sons
But I often think back of our time together
of your too hot steering wheel
peppy dependability
and the seat that fit
just right.

Halloween Haiku

Running through the patch

Shrill screams heard among orange globes

My son's first pumpkin