Lunar, R.I.P.
My parents were here for a year in about 2004. During that time they were given a 1992 Toyota Previa as a gift from some people who took kindly to their missionary work. For that year this van served them as they made their way around southern California.
I've got many weaknesses and one is to draw associations. This van reminded me of them; of us; how Seruyanges have always been at the receiving end of other's kindness and how as modest as we were, we always had enough. The van also reminded me of my wedding day: as we were driving to the church I realized that for the first time in perhaps more than 10 years, we were all together as a family. My brother Jonathan was driving and my dad was next to him up front. Behind I sat with my sister, her children, and my mom. I think all of us, aware of just how precious that moment was, saved it for the tough days when we realize how scattered we are.
I was driving the van around shortly after my parents left, trying to clean up my life in southern California and make my way to South Dakota, marriage, and a new life. I had intended to sell my car, ship my things in boxes, and fly on a one way ticket to Omaha or Minneapolis. I won't forget being on Chapman in Fullerton, talking to G on the phone when she said: "Why not just take the van?"
Why not?
So I did: California to Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and finally South Dakota. Seruyange style: modest, but always enough. There were moments in the Rocky Mountains that it topped out at 40 miles per hour, and I had massive trucks wooshing past me. When I stopped in a ski town, I was at the end of many a stare as people tried to figure out who the quirky guy was and where he was headed.
The van kept going as I settled, even when I lost control and ran it into the ditch one snowy day. I wanted it to keep going forever - okay, not forever but at least the 300,000 mile mark but alas, it could not be so.
Today we had to let the van go - the Lunar Module as it became known. It won't serve anyone else but this is my ode to it and being a Seruyange. Modest, but always enough.
11:45:09 PM 
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