Bye-Bye, Black Beauty

My old 1997 Pontiac Grand Am GT (with dual exhaust) - a/k/a Black Beauty - was hauled away this afternoon. It was donated to Capital Public Radio.

9 years. 90,878 miles. It took me from Wisconsin to California, back to Wisconsin, and back to California. It was involved in one crash - with a snow bank. It got towed once - in California for having Wisconsin plates. It ran out of gas 4 times. It once died in the middle of Park and Regent in Madison at 4:30 PM on a Friday. The car's engine also required at least $800 in repairs for 3 consecutive Augusts.

The CD player stopped working in 2002. The volume dial in 2004. The air conditioning in 2005. The right-side mirror in 2006. The driver side door lock in 2008. The heater in 2009.

The car's last day of service was Friday, October 16. The last time I drove it was last night, once around the block.