When Patti Savage's car windows got stuck down while it was sleeting on Christmas Eve in 1992, she knew there was only one solution.
She stopped by a dealership and purchased a 1993 Jeep Wrangler.
"I wanted a car that was not disposable for a change," Savage said. "Basically that's it."
Since then, Savage and her Jeep have been through quite a lot together. The Jeep was even totaled at one point after someone rear-ended savage at a red light.
However, Savage wasn't going to give up the Jeep just because it was totaled, and it still drives perfectly fine to this day.
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"She doesn't really look damaged," Savage said. "A guy ran into me going about 35 mph and never hit his brakes. Had the back tire on the back so it bounced forward into the van in front of me and then as I bounced back, he hit me again. I couldn't walk for about six months."
Savage said the only real major damage that happened to the Jeep was the body of the car got pushed forward about an inch. So now, her back hatch doesn't work.
Savage hasn't changed too much on her Jeep, but one thing that is noticeable is the zebra print that wraps around the vehicle. Hidden within that Zebra print on both sides of the Jeep is her last name, Savage.
"I didn't like the plain white right off the bat," Savage said. "So three days after I got it, I had the stripes put on. I was a Nashville recording artist at the time. So I had my name put in charcoal in a different color. That was just like, 'I'm here.' That was my thing."
Savage has built plenty of memories in her '93 Jeep over the years.
"I have a lot that I can say then my most fond ones I should probably not share," Savage laughed. "She's taken me to Nashville and back many times. I like to go kayaking and she takes me down the river. I don't have to worry about getting back."
Savage still drives her Jeep every day, and her husband calls it a "death trap" because it's a car from the early 1990s.
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However, Savage disagrees with that and said her Jeep is still in great condition. The vehicle still goes down the interstate and has no problem handling the rigors of the road.
Even in moments of peril, the Jeep has always come through and provided lasting memories.
"There was a place in Windrock, Tennessee, that I was driving with a friend and I had my Dalmatian with me," Savage said. "We were going up and down hills. There was absolutely no room on the side at all. We could've toppled off many times. The dog was having trouble and he was standing on the console. He was straight but we were (not). So I ended up letting the dog out and he ran beside us on the inside of the trail until we could get to a level spot."
Jeep owners always seem to build a special connection with their vehicle, and Savage is no different after having her Jeep for half of her life.
"I think it becomes part of you, especially if it's a standard," Savage said. "It's always been a beast. Honestly, after you have a few short scrapes and it takes you through some cool trails and you bust a few windows, it just becomes part of your life. It becomes part of your soul and your spirit and your journey that you've taken through life."
Patti Savage stands next to her 1993 Jeep Wrangler. - Photo by Donald Cross of The Sentinel-Record