Dear Bertha,

Now that I'm at college and have to walk everywhere, I miss you a lot and I'd like to reminisce for a moment. As a 2002 Subaru Outback, you're a pretty old car. You originally belonged to my grandmother, until she was diagnosed with dementia. After this diagnosis, my parents drove out to New York, brought you home, and parked you in our driveway.

Your brakes go out pretty often and your engine light is always on, but you were the first car I drove after I got my license. You helped me make mall trips, Panera runs, and late night returns. You got me to work and back, you let me blast Taylor Swift, and you witnessed more than a few crying sessions.

But to be completely honest, you were incredibly unreliable. When I was driving on icy roads after dropping off a friend, you started smoking and forced me to stop on an off-ramp. I had to tow you two other times after that, one of which was in my best friend's driveway and half an hour before work. I'm just glad I remembered the emergency brake.

You saw quite a couple first dates, and even you played a role in some of them. Like that time I slammed your driver's side door and accidentally caught the seatbelt in the window. I looked like an idiot trying get it out, so thanks for embarrassing me.

I guess you're wondering why I named you "Bertha." Well I read Jane Eyre my senior year of high school, and the crazy lady up in the attic was named Bertha. Don't worry, you only share a name with her.

You've got more than a few dents, from when I backed into a guardrail after only having my license for a week, to when my sister backed into our basketball hoop.

But the point is I really miss you. College is great, but walking up ten flights of stairs is already getting old a little old. Many of my friends have cars, but nothing feels as great as driving you down the highway with all the windows down as the sun sets. Nor does anything calm me down like driving you into the late hours of the night.

You may not be the prettiest of cars, or the newest, but you were my first, and I hope your engine light turns off before I get home from school.

Sincerely,

Your beloved driver