An Ode To Betsy

We all have that travel companion that we can always count on for last minute trips. For me that travel companion was Betsy, my Volkswagen Jetta.

I bought Betsy when I first moved to San Antonio, Texas back in 2008. She was four years old and in great condition. She helped me get to know my new city and in the following years we traveled around other parts of Texas as well.

Then after five years in San Antonio it was time to try someplace new. I packed up Betsy and started the 14 hour drive to Denver, Colorado.

It was a long ride with not much for scenery…

So there I was in Denver, and again, Betsy helped me explore my new home and the surrounding areas. I often went down to Colorado Springs to visit friends and also did a great weekend trip up to South Dakota.

Yes, Betsy and I were exploring what we could. But in the end Colorado was not meant for us. We were cold. Very very cold.

So once again we packed up our stuff and started the drive to our home state of Florida. Little did I know the trip would become the road trip from hell. You see, while we were driving through Illinois, Betsy pretty much just died. I was able to pull over, but ended up having to take a tow truck to the closest town. That town was Metropolis. Yes, you read that right. Metropolis. As in, Superman.

I ended up having to stay in Metropolis an extra day and a half while they fixed Betsy. I was so pissed. I may have called Betsy mean names… Ok, I admit it. I called her a bitch. But I tried to make the most of the situation. There wasn’t much to the small town I was stuck in. But they did have a pretty cool Superman museum and a statue of him right in the center of town. If you want to read more about the real Metropolis, click here.

Finally, we were on our way again. I apologized to Betsy for calling her names and begged her to be a good girl. I was so stressed it was ridiculous. When we finally crossed into Florida, my eyes watered.

And since being back in Florida, Betsy has once again been my faithful travel companion. We’ve not only rediscovered my home town of Miami, but gone up and down southern Florida.

But now it’s time to say goodbye. Betsy turned 11 this year and more and more things were starting to go. I will always have fond memories of our trips and all the times she was there for me when I just needed to runaway.

Last weekend I said goodbye to Betsy for the last time and got a new car, a Toyota Yaris that I have named Tami.

I know Tami and I are going to get along and that we will have many new adventures. But let me tell ya, she’s got some big tires shoes to fill…