An Ode to the Rodeo
It was my own little love shack
Yet, barely a step above a Honda Civic hatchback
Because when you’re young and live at home
Your car is more of an apartment than a simple means to roam
That was my 1994 Isuzu Rodeo
And oh, the places we did go
We strutted our stuff all over town
Like sporting a new pair of clean Buster Browns
But it wasn’t brand new, it was used a bit
And there was the time I hydroplaned on the interstate, and it took a decent hit
But it pulled through somehow, and we kept on trucking
For many late-night dates spent in cul-de-sacs hanging out
Like I said, it was more than just a ride
It was the mobile dorm room where I spent all my time
For hours after a high school dance
I still had a lot to learn about romance
But learn I did over the course of my youth
A lot of great change took place underneath that sunroof
Yes, that vehicle saw a lot of firsts
Some I remember fondly and some were the worst
Slamming the doors and break-ups and fights
Back when I still thought 311 were better than just alright
Speeding tickets and road trips
Blasting Duran Duran up and down the Z-Strip
That SUV was special to me
But the day finally came when it had to be put it out of its misery
It quit working altogether
And was slowly destroyed by the weather
Looking back it’s hard because I know it deserved better
So many good times shared
Yet in the end, it sat there
Like no one ever cared.
It’s maroon paint, chipped and moldy
Even the guy driving the tow truck tried to scold me
He said, “How could you let this thing get in such bad shape?”
“It was cheaper to replace than to fix, call it fate.”
And as I said goodbye to that mechanical friend
I watched as another chapter in my life came to an end
I’m thankful for the memories that can’t be taken away
And I try to appreciate the new ones that I’m making today