we have this truck…
ok, technically it is my grandfathers truck; but really it is the families truck.
i’m pretty sure all the grandchildren have driven it at some point or another.
bo learned to drive in it, my cousin jonathan did too, we’ve driven it in the country, on the highway, on the interstate…through mud roads, gravel, asphalt.
grandchildren have been buckled into the back bucket seats for store runs – or we’ve laid in the flatbed driving down the interstate (rednecks i tell you, rednecks!).
when my brother’s car (our moms old car) blew up in flames, he drove this sucker to school for months. there was no heat, no ac, no defrost, windshield wipers were a joke, you had to put your weight into the breaks, and you didn’t even need a key to start it – just turn the ignition. 😉 (this has been fixed recently)
i recently found out that it was my aunt & uncle’s honeymoon car. apparently my grandfather had just bought it right before they got married. my uncle’s mom said something along the lines of “steve, wouldn’t you feel better knowing your daughter was driving to florida in a safe new truck?” yup, guilted in to it!
the truck has had many uses – and up until recently grandaddy was holding on to it to use as a property truck out at their place…but we all knew that was not going to happen. many, many, older men stopped by the house asking if it was for sale – i would take their information, pass it along, and nothing ever came of it. it has been sitting in one of two spots in my side yard for the better part of three years. i’ve gotten used to mowing around & weed eating under it. it’s almost like a lawn decoration.
recently my grandfather called and told me he sold it – to a guy in the neighborhood. 🙂 he’s planning on repainting it and breathing some new life into this old clunker. i will be thrilled to see it driving down the street.
i must admit, when i came home the other night and saw the empty spot (and high grass!) where it used to sit…i was a little sad. it’s like an end of an era. the great grandchildren won’t get to drive the old truck, or have the luxury of adding another dent or scratch to it.
so here’s to you green beast.
thank you for the many miles, windows down, drinks spilt, and country music blaring.
you will be missed.
does your family have a certain car/item that gets passed around?
I liked this story.
Isn't it funny how the stuff we've hung onto just can't go away without a little, "Ohhh, do I really want to be rid of that?!?"?
My family has soooo many things that get passed around…Homes, a car, recliners, jewlery, and the list goes on!
What a great pile of memories!
Loved this. We had a sofa bed. My parents bought it when they first married and it traveled from Germany to Maryland to multiple locations in Florida.
It is heavy. With a metal bed frame..and full-size mattress. And velvet.
I took it to my first apartment after college, and then Matt and I lost moving-day-friends over the moving of it three. different. times once we were married.
It was a beast.
But so many memories of it. I would nearly have a panic attack every time the idea of leaving it behind was brought up. My parents dragged that thing around for 22 years. And then I dragged it around for 5.
We donated it to a friend who works for a refugee placement ministry. It is now (hopefully) being used by a family in need of furniture.
bye bye green truck!
Love this story! It reminds me of the first truck that my dad had. We called it the Gray Ghost, because well it was gray and it was old so it was starting to rust. Dad always said that it was going to be mine one day and still jokes that it isn't gone, he just has it in hiding for me once I read his will. ha! One last joke.
Then, there was a truck that belonged to my granfather, Pop. It was an old, black Chevy Scottsdale. (Look it up! It's a great looking truck!) We got it once he passed away and fixed it up. We actually got it running again and I learned how to install new blinkers and taillights to a truck! We eventually sold it because so many people asked us about it. I really miss that truck and wish we could have kept it. Just the other day I found a picture of someone selling one and showed it to Dad. Good memories. 🙂