Page 43 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 149

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #149 June 2025 43

Continued from page 37 box and found her original lease him that it just couldn’t be. Then I bought him a CAA membership for

played a huge role in shaping who I agreement from Cornwall Toyota. he sent me an image of the Carfax his birthday just in case. He is a very
am. And no one had a bigger impact Her name. Her address. It was fate. report showing all of the snow tire sentimental person and always has
on me than Aunt Pat. She was—and Despite its rattles and a dashboard lit changes done at Cornwall Tire; I been. I took my old car for a spin and
still is—stylish, modern, and fiercely up like a Christmas tree, I couldn’t knew then that it was probably my thought that it might be nice to have
independent. A true role model. I walk away. We settled on a price— old car. it back, but realized it now has a new
remember how excited I’d get as a about $3000—and I drove it home, This was actually my third life and a new owner who loves it as
kid when I saw her car pulling into tears in my eyes, radio on, taking in Solara. The first one that I leased much, if not more, than I did. Maybe
our driveway. It wasn’t just about the clunks and the memories. was a 2003 silver model, and the I’ll be fortunate enough to borrow it
the gifts she brought (though they This wasn’t just a car. It was Aunt second one was a 2005 black one for a day.
were always amazing)—it was the Pat’s car. The one she drove daily just like the 2008 Solara that Chris I sincerely hope that the effort and
magic of her presence. Now I try to for over a decade. The one my late had just discovered. These were money that he has put into my old
bring that same magic to my own grandmother used to ride in. That all leased at Cornwall Toyota with 2008 Solara pays off, and that I’ll see
niece and nephews. I want to be the kind of connection can’t be bought. Tom Everson guiding me through him pulling into my driveway with
“Favourite Uncle.” (Don’t worry all of the dealings. I purchased the the top down, sunglasses on, music
But then came the hard part:
Aunt Rosemary—I didn’t say who 2008 model when my lease expired blaring, waving at me and opening my
my favourite aunt is.) the mechanic. A quick inspection as I really loved the car. When the garage door for many years to come!!
revealed what I was dreading. The
Back in 2008, Aunt Pat leased a car was a mess. Holes in the floor, lease was up on the 2005 Solara, I By the way, when Chris was here
black Toyota Solara from Cornwall a rotten frame, and squeaks coming arranged for good friends of mine for the long weekend, my sister,
Toyota. She loved it so much that from places you really don’t want from Ottawa to purchase the vehicle Chris, and I went plant shopping.
when her lease was up, she bought squeaks. The frame was barely and they are still driving and loving It was raining so we took my VW
it outright. That Solara became hanging on. Most people would’ve it to this day.I am absolutely amazed Tiguan—-good thing, as everything
a fixture in her life, carrying her walked away—but not me. and delighted at how Chris has we purchased would not have fit
through everything from winter found my old baby and transformed in Patti Clunker, even with the top
storms to summer road trips until she With help from my retired work it into a once again roadworthy ride. down!”
“mom” Sue and her husband Ron, I
traded it in for a more joint-friendly
VW Tiguan in 2019. got in touch with Andrew at Shield’s
Automotive in Burford. Thankfully,
After she parted with it, the car he took on the job. He brought the
quietly made its way to Montreal. car back to life, and after a month
For the next five years, it lived a in the shop, it drives like a dream.
new life in the city—its days of Almost everything underneath is
small-town cruising replaced by the brand new. It still needs some TLC
buzz of urban traffic and salty winter on the outside, but that’s the plan
streets. But like many old things with for next year—a full body and paint
good bones, it eventually surfaced job.
again—this time on Facebook
Marketplace in March 2025, listed I’ve since named her “Patti
Clunker.” It’s a nod to her past,
for sale in Kitchener.
but also her resilience. She’s not
There it was. A black Solara that just a car. She’s a connection to my
looked just like hers. I scoured the childhood, to Aunt Pat, to memories
listing, and when I saw the Carfax that shaped me. And now, she’s part
showed it had been serviced in of my journey.
Cornwall for years and re-registered
annually on Aunt Pat’s birthday—I Because sometimes, the best
things in life aren’t brand new—
just knew. I Face Timed her and
asked, “Is there a stone chip on the they’re rediscovered.”
hood?” She nodded. I checked—and Pat Piquette:
there it was. I was three hours early to “When my nephew, Chris, called
the dealership the next morning, just
to tell me that he thought that he had
to make sure no one else snagged it.
found my old Solara for sale, I was
Once there, I opened the glove dumbfounded to say the least. I told