Ode to Hank

I had always wanted a truck for as long as I can remember. I used to take my little Chevy Malibu offroading and when I got pulled over for it (twice) the cops would tell me "next time just bring a truck". Well when I graduated from Nursing school and got a real grown up job I was dead set on buying a truck. In December 2011 my wish came true and I bought a 2008 Toyota Tundra. I named him Hank, aka Hank the Tank.

Well this past Fall Russ and I seemed to be having more and more conversations as to if we really needed 3 trucks. Moving to Springville and having a lot of my life in Orem and Provo I was spending a lot of money on gas and we decided we could save some money we were spending unnecessarily on gas just to drive a truck. So... we came to the decision to sell Hank. In honor of our memories and love for him this "ode to Hank" is in honor of all the memories we made together over the years.
 
I get emotionally attached to things (obviously), but part of the reason I had an even harder time getting rid of Hank was because of the memories linked to Russ and I. To some extent I feel Hank was partly to credit for bringing Russ and I together. It all started with a Tax return- and I wanted to use it to upgrade the wheels on Hank and put a small lift on him, ya know make him look a little less like a dad's truck. So... my friend from work referred me to Absolute Automotive and told me to talk to Russ or Luke. Well... that got her mind going and the scheming began. Russ and I began talking in March and he used the truck as a "buffer" of conversation talking about ideas of what I wanted to do and what options were etc...  We finally met about a week after conversation began and the first time I met Russ was in Hank.
Brook and I were hanging out and when I text him he and Tyson were hanging out so we decided to meet up. Us women were wanting to go for a drive so Russ gave me his address and we went and picked them up. It was still winterish time and I therefore had put some salt in the bed of my truck to add some weight. I remember Russ and Tyson got in, climbed in the back seat as Brook was riding shotgun :) and after introductions and hand shakes were made Russ said " ya know if this was a Chevy you wouldn't need those salt bags in the back". and I was hooked. We rode around and Russ directed us to Wallsburg for the first time. The road he led us on got narrow and more covered in snow so I parked and told him he was now driving (clever little scheme to get him up front with me). We spent the night talking and getting to know each other a little better while Hank kept us safe on different snow covered trails. That was just the beginning of Hank and I's journey with Russ.

The conversations continued as far as upgrades for Hank, and he was a prime opportunity to get me in the shop where Russ conveniently worked, as well as a reason to text him. 

Russ had a joke going that he was going to leave some redneck truck nuts on my truck as part of my upgrades.

  The decision was finally made as to what wheels, tires, and lift I was going to do so I took Hank into the shop and turned him over into Russ's care. Hank ended up needing a few extra things while in the shop such as a water pump, and oil change etc.. so I didn't have a vehicle for the night. Russ took advantage of that and when he invited me to go long boarding that night used it as an excuse to have to come pick me up and drop off home separate from everyone :)

The finished product! I am still in love with how he turned out

Fast forward to the next big event involving Hank... Russ and I had our first kiss in Hank on May 1, 2012. We had been out offroading and mudding in and the night was perfect! As a result-the first kiss we had both been waiting for finally happened.

After that Russ and I were pretty much a sealed deal. But the adventures and memories made in Hank continued. These are some of the memories that stand out...

Hank ended up being the location where we rung in the new year of 2012. Great way to start the year if you ask me!

Hank and I went on MANY drives together, whether just the two of us, or with friends he was a go to for drives and it helped that he could go anywhere.

 

 Hank was a favorite hangout place for the kiddos. Didn't matter if it was in the bed or the cab of the truck, they just loved him.

The white Truck Posse

Hank was the vehicle of choice for our Honeymoon adventures. Hank took us all around Northern Utah, up into Jackson Hole and Yellowstone.

Couples that drive trucks together-stay together!

Family of Trucks

Saying Goodbye.

 Obviously there are many more memories I'll never forget but I'm grateful to  have had such a great first truck & obviously grateful for the help it was in hooking my husband :) Thanks for taking care of me over the years Hank, and for being my first love!