tear

i used to be like these lovely ladies of yesteryear.

yes. i too was a proud owner of California license plates.

until today.

a small piece of me died today. i finally gave up my last ray of sunshine.

no more California. :(

those plates have traveled via my Honda Fit through many many states... snow, wind, rain, sleet, heat, and several thousand bugs. they are all my Fit has ever known.

they have been my battle cry, my symbol, my personal protest to assimilation, and my announcement to any town i drive them through. they are a simple proclamation:

hey, im cool. i'm a Californian.

(yes, i'm still proud of it. even though our public education stinks, we have an actor-governor, controversial political propositions, earthquakes, and an outrageous cost of living.)

i was born there, and my love for it will never die.

R.I.P. CA plates. you will be sorely missed. and these new ones with floating Lincoln-heads? they ain't got nothin' on you.

PS. dear Fit- just because your 'label' says Illinois now, don't think you have to get used to this sub-freezing stuff. i know i never will.