Support Spruce Ann

Every birthday, you see people recommend donations to a charity. As I was thinking about my 50th birthday this year, I too wanted to go the route of giving. However, I'm going to be straight up and say that this year, I want to be the charity.

Spruce Ann, my Ford Explorer is in desperate need of repairs. Before you grumble, let me share what Spruce Ann has done for the community and for my heart and soul.

Spruce Ann was purchased in 2002. She had 20,000 miles on her. She was purchased because I needed a vehicle that would carry my Rottweiler to her job. TBAA (Touched by an Angel) was a Canine Search & Rescue and Search & Recovery Dog. As Volunteers, we spent a lot of time looking for missing children, adults with mental disabilities, suicide victims, drowning victims, homicide victims, and more. We have worked all across the State of Tennessee as well as Indiana. We have worked high profile cases for the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children, KlassKids, TBI, and many LE agencies. Each case, we took time from work and money from our own pocket. There were times we would receive a reimbursement for lodging, food, and gas, but not much else.

Over the years, Spruce Ann has had an engine replaced, a transmission rebuilt, and other minor fixes. I'm proud to say that she has almost 324000 miles on her as of today. One of her last jobs was the work we did looking for the missing in the 2010 floods in my hometown of Kingston Springs. This is where we saw her 4WD go out, get stuck in mud, and had to get pulled out by a Chevy. But she kept working and she kept carrying around the best dog anyone could ever have. She eventually carried the next K9 SAR dog, Dayin Dublin, but not as long. Her bones were starting to rust. Only two windows roll down, oil is leaking from her engine, her ball joints need to be replaced, new tires need to be put on, and a few other tweaks to help her get back to the job she once loved.

I have a new Rottie. Willow Amara Moon who seems to have a little bit of her predecessors in her. Her nose is on point, and I see SAR back in my future. I am aware that I could purchase a newer vehicle, but I just don't want it. I want Spruce Ann. She has been the one, solid, consistent thing in my life and has brought me so much joy and fulfillment.

This year, as I turn 50, I've thought about what I really want. I was going to Savannah, GA for my birthday day because it's one of my favorite places. However, I asked Britteny to take the budget she had for that, and put it towards fixing Spruce Ann. I can go on vacation another time, but for now, my priority is fixing Spruce Ann and putting her back to work.

I know many of you struggle with your bills and possibly even your vehicle. I am fortunate that I have another vehicle that I can drive daily. If you can't support an old lady (truck, not me because I'll never be old), I understand. In that case, send some positive vibes my way and do something that makes you happy today.

With much love,

Nikki, Willow and Spruce Ann

In Memory of TBAA and Dayin Dublin