Farewell forever, Festiva

I bid adieu to a lifelong friend last month. It wasn't of the human variety or even living – it was my 1988 Ford Festiva.

I've written about her in this space once before. The Festiva is a four-speed compact that more closely resembles a pregnant roller skate than a vehicle. I inherited her from my grandfather, who drove the go-kart since I was a wee tyke. I kept the "little white car" humming from my freshman year of high school until her departure from my back yard last month – a proud feat, if I do say so myself.

I hadn't driven her as much as I would have liked to in recent years. She leak...