Ode to my Integra
Today I parted ways with my trusty white, 2-door Acura Integra LS.
I’ve had this car since March 18, 1995. She was a generous gift from my parents, shortly after I turned 16 (yes I know, privileged). And I’ve proudly owned this car since.
She was my car through my teen years while at Walnut High. I remember being so proud to get the car I wanted, and a stick (I felt so cool)! As a teen, I felt compelled to tint the windows, add a security system, clear corners, and switch out my stick knob. I then dreamed of all the ridiculous things I could do to my car, which I thankfully never did. I remember pulling up to my senior parking spot every morning. I remember driving to swim practices at IHAC, driving home in my towel after water polo and swim workouts, to swim meets and to various other after-school social activities. She was there for me for my first two jobs - Raging Waters and Disneyland. She was extremely familiar with the 60, 10 and 57. And she bore witness to numerous speeding tickets in her infancy.
Then I went away to college and she stayed home for a year. But once I had my own apartment and a garage, I immediately drove her up north to Berkeley. She survived the hills of Berkeley and SF, teaching me how to properly control a stick at steep inclines. She covered every inch of the Bay Area, survived many early morning drives back from clubs and raves, and made numerous treks across 80, 880, 680, 580 and up and down the 5. She even withstood an accident on the 880 one morning and safely got me to and from work. She was even there for me when I was taken down to the police station in a patty wagon.
In 2001, I moved to New York and left her at home again. She stayed there for a little over 3 years before I needed her in my life again. I shipped her cross-country and she arrived in New York in her pristine state. But New York took a beating on her, the years quickly added up and she wasn’t her luminous self ever again. The tri-state roads broke her down with numerous flat tires on the LIE and I-95 (I think 4 in total). The winter snow and ice challenged her petite and light frame, she got stuck at various intersections and parking spots, but she trucked through each season of snowfall. And the mean city street parking took a beating to her frame over the years, with scratches, bumps, dings, a broken side mirror, a broken antenna, and a broken window to name a few. She even visited the tow pound two times.
She caught a break for a year and half while I was in B-school. She rested quietly in Queens but her battery died often. I made many treks to the Sears Auto Center in Rego Park to revive her (thankful for the Die-Hard warranty… they just couldn’t understand why my battery kept dying so frequently).
She was reliable and faithful through it all. Long commutes to Long Island and Connecticut were smooth and efficient. Weekend trips to Vermont, Mass and Upstate NY could always pack in a full load of gear plus passengers. Numerous restful nights in long-term parking at JFK. And many friends partook in enjoying her convenience and cost-effective availability.
Two and a half months short of 17 years and just shy of 167,300 miles, I said good-bye to my car today. She was a constant in my life, and I have to admit, I’m a bit sad to say good-bye to her after all this time. You will be sorely missed. :)
