Saga of The Beast

September, 2003. I fell in love. Bob and I were walking by the funeral home parking lot when I saw it....and fell head over heels in love with it.

IT was a 1997 Lincoln Town Car -- cream colored body with a blue top. It was the top of the line which meant it had all the bells and whistles for 1997. It also had 140,000 miles on it....




But....BUT -- it was only $4500!

We checked with our limo company who said that these cars were designed to go at least 250,000 miles if you took care of it.

Within hours it was mine. We figured if it would last until Tim graduated from Taylor in May, 2006, we'd have found ourselves a bargain.

This morning on the way home from the hospital, The Beast turned 200,000 miles.





I still love The Beast. I don't want to give it up. It still drives like a dream.

I figure if I keep it much longer, I can enter it in Old Car night on Front Street in Wheaton in the summertime.

The Beast's license plate?

JANZLMO.

Home....

It's funny how good it feels to be home.

Home.

I'm not traveling nearly as much this year as last -- perhaps that is why I am relishing being home as much as I am.

Home.

Sure. We get up in the morning, and I go off to the hospital to see moms and babies....have lots of stuff to do in the office when I return, but there is something about being ... home.

Although if I were traveling I wouldn't be facing a root canal tomorrow.

Valium, anyone?