Little did we know it at the time, however we might have been making one last trip to the origins of “the Egg” a few weeks ago when we drove out to the Quimper Peninsula. Our only family car, the Egg, was stolen Wednesday around 3:30 am off our property. Michael and I were both astonished and a bit in shock. Lake asked, “who stealed our car?” We don’t know honey. “Some mans with bad manners,” he answered.

We had a few days to grieve and reflect and make some rapid adjustments. My brother generously flew Michael out to Spokane and loaned us his old family station wagon. Michael drove it back from Spokane and we started thinking about a replacement car seat for Lake. Yes, the thieves ungraciously took a little car with a car seat in it. Then, on Saturday we unexpectedly received a call from the Seattle Police Department: the Egg was recovered in West Seattle! Unbelievable. It had been parked in front of someone’s house for a few days before he reported it to the police. The tire went flat and it wasn’t moving. That was their queue. We were so thankful and rejoiced for our reunion!

We have quite a history with this vehicle and are so glad it wasn’t time to say goodbye.

It was 2002 when I bought my first own car – one of those unicorns of used cars: single owner, bought it new in cash, all records up to date and intact, selling due to moving out of the country. I found the advertisement for the 1998 Honda Civic CX 3 Door in the Peninsula Daily News (was living in Port Angeles at the time) and it was located down Egg and I Road in Chimicum. Now a small dairy farm. Then a chicken farm (see, read and enjoy The Egg and I: life on a wilderness chicken ranch told with wit and height humor by Betty MacDonald c 1945 Lippincott). My brother quickly named our Honda “The Egg”, for its pale color, egg-like shape and specific origins.

In the intervening time, the Egg and I have had 17 years of adventures together. The Egg has been a family affair, kept afloat and on the road by my parents and my brother. In 2008 my brother notably rescued it from a “totaled” claim by the insurance after being rear-ended in traffic on I-5. We bought it back from the insurance company for $500 and he famously resurrected it for an additional few hundred bucks. The Egg saw me through two doctoral degrees, one start-up business, two marriages (one short, one eternal), two trips to the Bay Area, one baby turned toddler, countless trips to Portland, Newman Lake, Bellingham, Vancouver, Port Townsend and Aberdeen. Whenever I would drive out to Port Townsend, the Egg and I would make it a point to drive through Chimicum and past Egg and I Road. This recent trip turned out to be our last.

During our visit on Nora and Ed’s Farm the sheep were wary of Lake. None of the nine ended up letting him pet them this time. Instead he sent them running!

Nonetheless a lovely farm visit with our dear friends. And such beautiful ferry rides to bookend the weekend.

We so appreciate our trusty Egg, (and our friends and family!) for making these getaways possible and enhancing the efficiency of daily commuting for Michael to the east side.