The first time I remember it happening was in my parents’ maroon Mercedes-Benz sedan. It was at the corner of Grover and Leo in Broadmoor. I can’t give you a precise date, but I’m pretty sure it was in the late 1960s.

I was euphoric. To be able to witness such an epic event is something that stays with you.

It has happened since, but I can’t remember being a witness. Could have been poor planning or just not paying attention to detail.

Until now.

Just east of the Farmerville Exit on I-20, mile marker 87 if you want to be precise, I felt the same joy I felt 50 years ago. And more than a little bit of both pride and anxiety molded into one.

I watched as my vehicle odometer turned to 100,000 miles.

Let’s face it; that’s not a life event you get to witness every day. And I must admit there are vast differences between the two milestones. Such as:

** In the 1960s, the odometer was analog, so the anticipation was palpable as you watch that last “9” start to roll up. Then it would be one more trip around for the white background tenths of a mile before it was game on. These days, it’s digital. One second it’s 99,999 (no tenths) and the next it’s 100,000. Don’t blink!

** And when you are less than 10 years old, you really don’t stop to think about what it all means financially. The concept of what happens after the 100,000 warranty expires doesn’t exactly carry the same weight for the kid who doesn’t have to worry about the car breaking down as opposed to the adult who does.

It seems only fitting that all members of Designated Writers’ upper management team were on hand to witness and record the event. When something truly happens, rest assured that we are there to cover it.