When my husband and I fly somewhere and rent a car, once we collect our suitcases from baggage claim, I stay with our luggage either, depending on the weather, outside or right inside the door at Arrivals while he goes to pick up our vehicle for the week. It has worked so well for us that it has become our standard procedure.
I never know what he’ll show up in, other than it will be a small SUV. Although he lets me know when he is leaving the rental company, his selection won’t be revealed until he says my name as he exits the car and I get close to it. There are too many different automobiles pulling up to collect their people, the majority of them small SUVs. As soon as I hear him, I begin wheeling our bags towards the trunk of our new, albeit temporary, ride.
On this particular trip, I saw the car before I learned that Mister Rain was behind the wheel. Since I don’t see color except for certain shades of blue, when something bright blue appears in my field of vision, it is striking. It is BAM!
“I think you’re going to love this car,” my husband said, as I met him at the rear of the vehicle.
“I do!,” I enthusiastically confirmed.
As we traversed the state of Utah, as well as Nevada for a few hours, when in a parking lot full of all the other colors that auto manufacturers offer, I was sure which was our transportation. For once I didn’t have to worry about getting in the wrong car, something that has happened several times since my vision loss.
My husband dropped me off at Salt Lake City International Airport eight days later; once again I handled the bags and he took care of returning the car. Before I got out at the Departures curb, I tapped the dashboard, thanking the vehicle for its service. We traveled over 1,400 miles together through cities, the Loneliest Road in the US and everything in between under brilliant sun, rain and even snow (in mid May!). We reached over 9,000 feet in elevation and, occasionally, 100 mph, safely and comfortably. As I watched the bright blue mass move away from me, it was a sure sign that our fantastic trip was over.
Going through my pictures on my iPad during the flight home, I made a wonderful discovery. The bright blue of the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport was a perfect compliment to the stunning red rock formations and the gorgeous western blue sky.
I was sad – dare I say, blue – that my Utah adventure had come to an end. But I was grateful for all the experiences I had had. I can’t see much from the window of an airplane, yet after takeoff, as we gained altitude, I swear I saw a familiar flash of bright blue down on the ground below.
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