A couple of weeks ago, our beloved C4 Picasso decided it was finally time to retire. Eva and I were in Galway with some friends, leaving the city centre towards the Dublin road, when the car kindly let us know (in its particular way, by beeping and flashing lights) that it had no intention of making the way back on its own wheels. So we had to switch to plan B and find an alternative way to get home (which by the way was a success, thanks to the tow truck operator arriving quite quickly, the train station being only a 15-minute walk away, Irish Rail´s regular Galway-Heuston service, and Fredi and Muriel, who came to pick us up in their two cars).

Here´s a picture of our Picasso on the street where we had to pull over and call a tow truck. I got this weird feeling that the car was saying goodbye to me...

A long time ago, I heard or read somewhere that, symbolically, a car represents our own life and the path that we choose to walk along. It is true that, in the last year or so, there have been many changes in my life, and all this time I´ve been thinking about maybe changing to a newer car, but I never taking the step.

Now, finally, the moment has come:

Let me introduce you to our newest acquisition: another Citroën, this time a C5 Aircross. I´ve been driving it for three days, and I love it! I´m getting used to it very quickly, it´s such a smooth drive.

As they said in that old song, to everything there is a season (by the way, I just found out that the lyrics come from a Bible passage, the beginning of the book of Ecclesiastes). Sometimes, we´re so embedded in our habits and routines that we find it hard to acknowledge something has already ran its course, and it´s time to let it go, so that you can continue to make progress.

Thanks a million, dear Picasso, for the 12+ years we spent together. The memories (and a handful of photos) will stay with us.

P.S.- If you´re also going through a transition phase, and could do with a few words of encouragement or a reminder of what´s important, I invite you to have a look at the very first post on this blog, which by the way was written exactly four years ago: This is your life.