Ode to a noble stroller.

Among its achievements are (in reverse somewhat chronological order):

• carrying over 50 lbs of kids in two different styles
• sitting out through at least three torrential houston rains
• numerous fairs, rodeo, trips downtown, and MILES of laps around zoos
• uncomplaining slinging the diaper-bag-of-survival on its handlebar shoulders
• loosing its cup tray about a year ago and still staying in active duty
• being the sole form of wheeled transportation for our family while we lived in pennsylvania for 3 months
• transporting heaviest groceries for the family of 3.5 in PA
• flying to (and being chucked in the belly of planes bound for): boise, id; salt lake city, ut; cincinnati, oh; state college, pa
• banging around in the trunk of two cars (and outlasting one)
• giving our newborns their first stroll (with its carseat assistant)
• survived being run over by our car and the attendant dual-wheel replacement
• high-chair on wheels while camping or at church activities.
• becoming sunbaked and faded in front of our apartment in orem, ut (and having spiders nest in its roof)
• taking newborn extremely bundled simon to visit mark at byu when he was still studying at 10pm

We got it when I was pregnant with Simon and picked its blue/green pattern since we were going to be surprised at the baby's gender. now three and a half years later the seat is so permanently darkened (from all the buses and planes in pa and baby knee sweat i guess) it doesn't really matter what color it is. it's only meant for one little babe but i feel so macgyver-ish when it carries two. and so proud. it's not nearly as glossy and smancy as many of the other strollers it meets at the park, but it's the best $100 we ever spent. way to go big guy!

postscript: the other day i was dropping off some stuff at goodwill and noticed that someone had donated our exact stroller (but in nearly mint condition). for a second i was tempted to ask if i could switch for it, ours has been through so much and shows it. But then I pitied the new one and thought "why not let our noble guy go as far as it can go--it hasn't failed us yet!"

i'll keep you posted if a wheel busts off coming home from kroger one of these days . . .