General - R.I.P. "Black Light"

Seven hundred dollars.

I case you were wondering... That's what ten years of hard driving gets you -- through the Nevada desert at 2 a.m., past the Orange Curtain in rush hour traffic, over the river in Kansas City, to the Canadian border in a day's time, into Dallas for New Year's Eve, through Kentucky and Tennessee and Alabama on the way to Florida for Spring Break.

Below are some of the last pictures I took of the car that was dubbed "The Black Light" due to its dark purple paint job. It was after a rain storm and just before dusk, probably the best time to snap a few photos with the intent to entice buyers.

The photos never made it to Craig's List, as I sold the car to a man who had left a note on it several months earlier. He noticed the neglect I had heaped on the vehicle ever since that fateful day in 2005 when the transmission began to sputter.

He figured he could get a deal and he was right.

After a half-hearted test drive, the man handed over seven $100 bills and I said goodbye to my traveling companion of the last decade. I have no doubt the car was in parts before the sun went down the next day.


Still beautiful in the failing light...

The Black Light logged 96,960 miles under my stewardship. Like all older models, it's had some work done (the front end lost a battle with a Honda Pilot and an LA intersection a few years back), but the original parts have passed through 21 states and Canada.


The Grand Am got style in 1996...

This car loved road trips. I think it was always meant to be on a freeway. The stop and go city driving is where every mechanical problem became magnified.

In the end, I'm trying to remember all of the good things. The past five years have featured a lot of complaining about the car. Begrudgingly fixing whatever the latest problem was in order to avoid having a monthly car payment. Hanging on for the sake of savings and shucking safety aside.

Alas, it has been through a lot. And, judging by some quick research online, it survived much longer than most Grand Ams its age.

This is the car that got me to California. This is the car I met my wife in. This is the car that took the place of my beloved first automobile (Titan; 1984 Plymouth Horizon; sold for $25 and a free tow in 1996).

The Black Light performed admirably for most of its ten years.

Now it is time to give my new Nissan a chance at building some memories.

Rest in Peace, my old friend. You will be remembered fondly.