Drive

Lots of the Five Points Hellfish softball supplies lived in Dan's car. Here is Dan during a 2013 Hellfish softball game.

When the winter weather finally broke, my parents washed their cars. They also cleaned out Dan's car, which he had actually been driving up until the day before he went into the hospital the last time.

My parents were astounded at what they found in the car: a canopy, several beach chairs, a bag toss set, a duffel bag from the fishing trip, several phillies hats, and his softball equipment.  Who knew you could fit a party into a Chevy Cobalt?

Now that the car is de-personalized, it is easier to drive. (Although I am still terrified of hurting one of his things.) On Saturday, I decided to take it on 309 for a bit. I rolled down the windows and pulled up REM's "Living Well is the Best Revenge" on the iPod. I smiled, remembering that Dan had sent me a link to this song when it was released as a single. I bought the CD to listen to on the way to his Penn State graduation.

I think that the car is used to having a more aggressive driver than I am, and I think it is used to going on cooler adventures than to trader joes on a Saturday. I know that Ben would have a fit if I turned the trunk into a permanent traveling party. But I hope to be able to try some new things this summer, and I think Dan would be happy to know that I'm living well. He certainly wasn't one to sit and stare.

Since I can't find the pictures that I KNOW I have of Dan in his car, here is a picture of him in a silly hat under one his canopy during a fishing trip, a few minutes before it collapsed in the rain.