Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Dear Honda

Honda Odyssey 2014.
Even more beautiful than the sunset.


Dear Honda,

  I know you're a huge bazillion dollar company, but I like to think of you as a friend.  I grew up for a while knowing you were my Mom's friend as you made her happy to drive her "Irish Honda" (it was a pretty kelly green color).  I loved to sit in the back, waiting for my turn at the wheel one day.  

You were there for me when I was buying my first car with my own hard-earned money upon graduating with my MBA.  I was so excited to hand over $5000 at the age of 23 for a used white Honda Accord that drove with a smooth spunk.  I loved you.  I really really did.  You were my favorite car ever, even when I backed you up into that pole at the garage.  You didn't hold a grudge,  you sweet Honda.

But things changed and life went on, I got married and had babies, and soon couldn't fit all my beautiful children within your loving embrace anymore.  But I couldn't bear to get rid of you.  So I urged my husband to adopt you and get rid of that new (but non-Honda) car he had been driving around.  Adopt you, he did.  And he loved you too, even as you got older and more dinged up as time went on.

Finally we came to a point where we both needed a van big enough to hold our five kids, and off you went to another happy customer.  I may have cried a little that day.

Because my husband is a school teacher, and I also work in a school, money has always been hard to come by, and we purchased used vans that were not Hondas.  I know, I know, I'm ashamed too.  We have scrimped and saved and this summer, we finally paid off our student loans, just in time to discover we were expecting our 6th baby.  We are thrilled!  But, now I am looking into a minivan that can hold 8 passengers once we become a family of eight in March 2014.  And guess what is at the very top of my wish list?  That's right, a Honda Odyssey.  My dream car.  Some people have told me that I should dream bigger, but there's no vehicle better than a Honda in my book.


I even saw a commercial last night showing that you come with a built in vacuum!  You know me (and my messy kids) so well.  Oh to have a clean, comfortable, sporty, reliable, safe and beautiful Honda Odyssey would be beyond my wildest dreams, but a girl's gotta dream right?  My husband is not even considering adding you to our family, sweet Honda O., because he insists we just got out of debt and are saving for a four bedroom house and we don't have the funds available right now.  

You've never let me down before, Honda, and so as they say "Ask and you shall receive.  Knock and the doors will automatically slide open at the touch of a button" and maybe just maybe, one of the nicest Honda dealers ever will take pity on this mother's heart and make my dreams come true with a bargain that even my frugal and practical husband can't refuse.

With all my eternal, undying, never-wavering devotion,


P.S. Me + Honda = 4 eva

22 comments:

  1. the built-in vacuum was enough to make me consider giving up our paid for Toyota Sienna for a Honda Odyssey. But, tis not to be...we like living car payment free too much.

    ReplyDelete
  2. HA! You are hilarious. And may Honda hear your plea and drop a sweet 2014 Honda O at your doorstep. Btw, really, 8 passenger? That may just about change everything. And the built in vacuum, well, that may also be the game changer. Hello, Honda!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh I love me some Honda's too. I have my eye set on a glorious Odyssey too but I have a lonnng time before needing one. I'll stick to enjoying our little Accord for now. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I used to have an Odyssey.
    It only fit 7. I was expecting #6 and my husband traded it in for an Expedition.
    I finally got another minivan! It is a Kia (I couldn't afford another Honda) I miss my Odyssey. Daily.
    Will be saying prayers that you are able to get an Odyssey (really? an attached vacuum?) Settling is for the birds! Just sayin

    blessings
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  5. I still can't even talk about the beloved 8 passenger Odyssey that we traded in for The Beast of the East without sighing wistfully. Hands down, still my favorite car I've ever driven. So smooth, so reliable, so comfortable - even with all six kids and carseats crammed in there. I miss her. But yeah, no car payments is a big deal.

    Maybe someday we'll be reunited? Fingers crossed.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a sweet and funny post! It made me laugh. And I do hope you're able to get your dream car.

    I know what it's like to love a vehicle. My beloved baby was a fire engine red 15-seat Dodge Ram van, and it served us and our boys (and their sports teams) very well for many years and over 200,000 miles until we finally had to retire it. When the truck came from the St. Vincent de Paul Society to take it away, I did cry a little. It was like a member of our family was leaving us!

    My husband and I drive a Nissan Maxima now, and it's shinier and sportier than our old red van...but boy, do I miss her sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Our 2006 Odyssey has the optional extra seat.... Maybe you can find one used too? Although it doesn't come with a vacuum!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is too funny! At least you still have your big van, right? But, I do hope Honda hears your plea and leaves a van at your door! It could happen..

    ReplyDelete
  9. My husband won't buy anything else. And my 17-year old just saved for and bought his first car last year - a Honda Accord. Old and dinged, but he loves it like a baby.

    ReplyDelete
  10. One buying suggestion - we bought our Suburban (5 kids over here - 4 of them GIANT boys!) from Enterprise Rental cars. They sell off their "old" stock every year (you can google Enterprise Car sales). We got a 1-year old Suburban with only 24,000 miles on it for about $13,000 less than a new one. I just called them, and told them what I was looking for - very specifically. They checked their inventory, BROUGHT IT TO ME AT THE SOCCER FIELDS (!) so I could test drive it, and then took it back and cleaned it. Then brought it to my house, where we signed the papers. Easy, peasey. Best car buying experience EVER. My mechanic checked it out, too, and pronounced it "practically brand new". Just a thought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is such a good tip!

      Delete
    2. My hubby got his first car through Enterprise . . . it is a GREAT way to get a good deal on a used car!

      Delete
  11. I cannot imagine trying to fit 3 or 4 car seats in an Odyssey. I was so anti-van until my Explorer died and my husband told me... "You're getting a van" and handed me the keys to our Odyssey. We just did a change from the two girls in the middle row to the back and there is 1/10 of the back seat left with their car seats installed.

    Don't get me wrong I <3 my Odyssey a whole lot but I think cramming 6 kids in it would not be a pleasurable experience... I have my eye set on a Sprinter Van when/if the time comes. You should totally check it out

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm older than you with less kids, but I drove a Honda Odyssey for 7 years, followed by a Honda Accord for the past 71/2 years. No better car than a Honda - hope you get your van :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Loved your sweet post to Honda.. I am so needing something new/pre owned but I am holding on... I hate car payments! It really feels good not to have one. but there comes a day that you just have (for the sake of babies in safe reliable cars) give in..
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ooh, an Odyssey sounds lovely! It's so nice to know there's an 8 passenger something out there! I was wondering if there was anything between 7 and the 12 passenger van! We just dumped a whole wad of cash on our decrepit Hyundai and it was painful. But we'd like to run it as long as we can so hopefully we can get another year or so out of it. Or maybe someone will hit it which, as long as no one was hurt, would cause dances of joy.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I hope you get your Honda!

    ReplyDelete
  16. We have an old, beaten up Honda O and I LOVE that van! A built in vaccuum would be awesome! I would make the kids clean it everytime we used it:-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. You are so funny! Before we found out that we were expecting #6, the opportunity came up to buy a friend's 8 passenger (ahem) Sienna. I insisted we do it, knowing that we may be surprised with another child. We bought it, and we got surprised. Now our Toyota Sienna is full! (And I looooove it.) Still, an 8 passenger Odyssey would be sweet too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. We have one and its super convenient with kids. The vacuum only comes in the top of the line version though!! Such a great option though maybe in a few years they will put it in all the models- thats my hope anyway!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I hear ya girl! I too have been dreaming about a Honda O for months. Then the other night I dreamt we could only afford to "settle" for a Sienna. I woke up so sad :(
    Unfortunately the downpayment we saved up for our Honda was used on the NICU bill when our baby was born 6wks early = No Honda for me... tear!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Umm, I forgot to tell you that Bill says you should send this to Honda and see if they give you one. I think he might have been joking (or not), but it may be worth a shot it's that good!!!

    ReplyDelete

Talk to me...