So I was prepared to come home tonight and take a few pictures of the damage that was done to the Nissan over the weekend. But you know what? That Margie Boule? She gets results. Based on the evidence at hand, I think she may even have Oprah-like powers.

A few hours after her column about my vehicular conundrum hit the streets, she passed along an email from an officer involved with the PPD's Neighborhood Response Team. I sent him my address at 4:30 PM this afternoon and I received a voice mail around 6:30 PM. By 7 PM he had the Nissan on its way to wherever abandoned cars go when they've worn out their welcome in people's bushes. The officer even saw to it that all the broken glass was swept up.

Excellent work but it's a shame that it took a tens of thousands of copies (no idea wha the O's circulation numbers are these days) of a newspaper column to get the job done. But who am I to complain? I've got that muddy spot on my hill back and I don't have a Nissan sitting in my living room right now.

Still, I'm feeling a little down. Despite the threat of it rolling down the hill and through a wall, I sort of miss the car. It was always there when I got home from work, kind of like a reliable dog. A 2,000 pound steel dog with a broken windshield and a torn-up driver's side seat. I guess you just don't know what you've got until it's gone.

All I have to remember it by is the photos and a few muddy tire tracks. Here's a shot of its old spot on the hill. It's still warm....*sob* And I told myself I wouldn't cry.

And all those unanswered questions remain just that, unanswered. Who is Jesus Rodriguez-Luna? Is he still living in Hillsboro? Did he have to leave the country suddenly? Was his Nissan stolen? If so, why didn't he report it? The car was in pretty good shape before vandals discovered it last Saturday. If it wasn't stolen, why did he ditch it in front of my house? Did he get involved with one of those car title loan outfits? And how did it wind up in my bushes a week later? Did my neighbor break in, drop it into neutral and push it into the bushes? He is the kind of guy that would do that sort of thing.

But seriously, thanks a million Ms. Boule. If you hadn't intervened wielding the awesome might of the mainstream media, the car would likely still be there come Rose Festival. Or worse yet, in my living room.

And with that, this surreal little saga finally draws to a close....

...or does it? Given my luck, the Nissan will be back there tomorrow morning ala "The Cat Came Back."