Sunny Came Home

If you’ve read some of my prior posts, you’ve probably heard about Sunny.

 

Sunny is my handsome, bright yellow Jeep Wrangler who came into my life in April of 2023, right after I moved to Arizona. At the time, I hadn’t owned a car in years. Chicago, specifically Lincoln Park, made it easy not to: buses, the L, taxis, and a lifestyle designed for walking. But Arizona is a different story. Even though I chose a neighborhood where I could stroll to coffee, groceries, and dinner, it became clear pretty quickly that I needed (and wanted) a car.

 

I’d admired Jeeps for a while, so that was the starting point. My brother flew in to help with the search, though he later noted that I seemed perfectly capable of handling it on my own. (Still, I glad he was there!) I test drove one Wrangler and immediately knew. The model itself was right but the test car was not. Grey with leather seats (not at all built for triple-digit heat unless you enjoy frying your legs).

 

Then the dealer searched again. A Willys. Fabric interior. And yellow.

 

 

I fell for Sunny immediately.

 

 

 

Fast-forward almost three years. My lease is ending, and buying him out isn’t in the cards. I contacted the dealership to understand next steps, timing, options… About a week later, I got the call: a new Willys was on its way in. Blue. New. Everything I’d want. Easier on my wallet.

 

I test drove him. He checked all the boxes and was gorgeous in his own right. But instead of feeling excited, I felt… down.

 

That surprised me. There is nothing wrong with the new Jeep. I wanted to be thrilled. But I wasn’t – and that sent me into reflection mode.

 

What I realized is that Sunny isn’t just “the Jeep I can always spot in a parking lot.” He represents a very specific moment in my life. He arrived when I took a real leap – moving across the country from a place I’d lived most of my adult life into something largely unknown. I was figuring out my professional footing, building personal connections, learning a new landscape (although I still rely on GPS way too much).

 

He brought joy and steadiness at a time when so much else was still unsettled, and helped me explore, literally and otherwise…

He was also tied to the start of my blog. My homepage says, “Come Along For the Ride,” and Sunny truly was my partner in that – through majestic mountains, everyday errands, and all the in-between instances.

 

So yes, there’s a definite twinge of sadness. But not because I’m giving up a yellow Jeep.

 

I’m saying goodbye to a chapter that mattered – one that carried me from uncertainty into something more grounded. I’m fortunate that I got to foster Sunny, and make memories that belong to that time.

 

And today, as I handed over the keys and welcomed Beep (the Jeep) into my life, I felt myself smile. I’m reminded that new experiences don’t erase the old ones. They build on them. A new season, a new copilot and a stretch of road ahead.

 

The journey continues.