Spotting a familiar face

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Yesterday was a particularly fantastic day. Not only was if Friday but the weather in Montreal suddenly turned Spring-like and temperatures soared into the double-digit plus range; and then something even more spectacular happen. I saw my Subaru.

When I first started this blog nearly a year ago, I wrote an entry about Your First. I waxed on about the importance of choosing a car that was truly yours and complimented your personality and your lifestyle as much as possible. And I took the time to reminisce about my long-lost first vehicular love, my ’06 Subaru Impreza.

I sold my baby nearly 4 years ago because my husband and I bought our first house. Plus, with all the test vehicles I had, I rarely ever got a chance to drive my baby and she used to sit for weeks, untouched and I felt horrible.

So, I found her a good home and I bid her farewell in May of 2007. It was a sad, sad day walking out of the dealer where the transaction took place holding nothing more than my license plate, when I’d originally arrived in my car.

I had a hard time holding back tears.

Now, nearly 4 years later, I still think about my charcoal grey Subie, especially when I see grey ’06 Subaru Impreza’s on the road. I usually heave a big sigh and look longing at the angled front grille and think about the good times my Subie and I had together. And if it’s a sedan, sans wing and the right colour, I always make it a point to check the license plate because I remember my buyer’s plate number by heart.

So, yesterday morning as I was trudging up to work after parking my BMW 535i GT tester I casually watched the cars pass me by on the street.

Then, as I got to an intersection I spotted the front of an ’06 charcoal grey Subaru Impreza. I wasn’t sure it was a sedan from the front (could have been a wagon) but I thought to myself: Aw, my Subie. And I made a point to watch him as he drove by and check the plate.

As the driver (who looked oddly familiar) turned in front of me (a nice, tight, spirited turn I might add) I spotted the license plate. And my jaw dropped.

It was MY Subaru. My baby had just passed me on the streets of Montreal. My baby whom I hadn’t seen in nearly 4 years (despite my obsession with always checking). I was beside myself.

I actually had to stop myself from jumping up and down and pointing. I immediately whipped out my cell phone to call my husband. I was breathless I was so happy and he just laughed, but he thought it was super cool too.

And I began to wonder; how many other people would feel so ecstatic about seeing their old vehicle on the road?

I was just so pleased to see her running well, to hear her exhaust, to see that she’d been taken car of (no bumps, scratches or dents) and that she was still being driven by the same guy.

So, I told a few people about my exciting, happy encounter and waited for the mockery.

But it didn’t come.

Turns out I’m not the only one who looks for their old car on the road when they see their model. And I’m not the only one who grins from ear to ear when they finally spot it.

I think I’d feel the same if I’d helped rescue a baby bird, then set it free when it was old enough only to have it come back a few years later just to say “hi.”

My baby bird said hi to me yesterday and it absolutely made my day.

Drive on,
– M.

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~ by drivingmsmiranda on February 19, 2011.