Memoirs of a van
My name is Maki, and I am a Renault Master born in France in 2005. You should know that my name wasn’t always Maki; in fact, I never had a name until April 2, 2021.
(First published in Issue 5, June 2022) When my first owner bought me, I served as a work and storage van. It was hard work for me. My owner was a tough man who saw me as just a tool for his work. Then one day, I was no longer used. At first, I thought I wasn’t good enough for him anymore. Days went by, and I didn’t see him until one rainy afternoon when I looked through the window and saw him lying on his sickbed. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. For two years, I waited faithfully, ready to serve, until one day he came to me. He looked defeated. When I was finally allowed to ride again, I made extra efforts, but I sensed that he was no longer the strong, tough man he once was. That same day, I was sold. He didn’t even look back as he left the garage. I was heartbroken and thought I would never find happiness on the road again... It was early spring, and though the birds were singing their most beautiful songs, I felt nothing. I heard and saw people passing by, interested in me, but when they saw my rusty spots and heard the price, they quickly lost interest. I have to admit, I didn’t show my best side either. Why should I? If I waited long enough, I would probably be taken to the scrapyard. How can a van serve if it no longer finds joy in the road?
One day, a young couple approached. They surprised me. They were younger than the others who had come to see me, and they weren’t dressed in workers' clothes or covered in dirt. The girl wore a flowered dress, her hair in braids, and the boy had long, wild curly hair and a blouse that was far too big for him. They inspected me thoroughly, inside and out, growing more excited by the minute, especially the girl, who kept letting out little screams of joy.
I’ll never forget the moment when I overheard that they wanted to make me their home. Did I hear that right? Me? An old, imperfect work van as a home?
I saw the boy making a deal with the garage owner while the girl kept coming back to take another look at me. If I could blush, my white metal would’ve turned bright red. They shook hands with the man from the garage and promised they’d return for me. They didn’t take long. Within two weeks, they were back, even happier than on the day of our first meeting. Over the next five or six months, I slowly transformed from the inside out. My rust spots were brushed away, and I was fitted with a full-sized kitchen, a bed, a lounge, and even a toilet! They named me Maki! I don’t know what it means, but it must have something to do with food, since they love it so much.
My new owners even threw a party when I was all done. Never in my life had I been admired and loved by so many people. It was finally time to hit the road with Iris and Maxime, a Dutch and French couple who had traveled the world with their suitcases. Now, it was time for them to settle down in their own way, by making me their dream home on wheels. Iris and Max talked about taking a tour through Europe. I didn’t know if Europe was a country or an area, or how far I’d have to drive, but if it were on the other side of the world, I’d take them there. You see, I didn’t know much about the world. I’d only seen France and a bit of the Netherlands.
It didn’t take long for me to figure out that Europe was a group of diverse countries, with mountains, white beaches, green forests, and beautiful towns to discover. Nine months, 11 countries, and more than 20,000 kilometers later, I’m still the boss on the road. I go wherever my owners go. I’ve found my happiness on the road again. My favorite country? I should say France, since I was born there, but for me, it’s Greece. I got to drive through mud, off-road mountain trails, and along beaches. I also enjoy the highways. They may seem boring at first glance, but when we hit the highway, the music turns up, and I get a full concert performance from Iris. Her favorite band is ABBA, and she screams with joy when their songs come on the radio. Max is the driver on our trips. He knows exactly how I like to cross the road. He also makes sure my tank is always full and that I get a bath every now and then.
I’m no longer just an object used for work and storage. I’m loved every day, admired when I go off-road without breaking glasses or furniture. Van life isn’t just for people; it’s for old work vans like me too. So, what are you waiting for? Will I see you on the road soon? Would you like to follow my journey and that of my owners?
