PONTIAC

PONTIAC
Who would have “thunk” it? General Motors is shutting down one of their many divisions - a sign of the recessionary times. The Pontiac brand joins Oldsmobile, which was retired abut five years ago.
While I never owned a Pontiac (I was a Chevy man), I did ride in one once. This was quite a memorable experience. My sister Jeanne had a Trans Am, which she liked very much. So much, that she said that she wanted to be buried in it. Jeanne outlived her car, so that didn’t happen. Jeanne, and her husband Bob, had a summer place at Canadian Lakes( MI). I was visiting my Mother in Ypsilanti, as was Jeanne. She invited the two of us to return to the cottage with her. My Mother never refused an invitation to go someplace. She readily accepted, as did I. Jeanne had stopped at a traffic signal in a small town in Southern Michigan. I was watching because I heard the engine of the car to the left of us rumble. I looked over and there was a young guy looking at us, checking out the car and passengers. Then, I heard Jeanne’s Trans Am engine rumble in response - like a mating call. Jeanne sat there, with her fancy shades on, looking straight ahead and giving no signs of a challenge.. My Mother was in the front -passenger seat, and I was sitting behind her. At the instant that the light turned green, Jeanne tromped down hard on the accelerator. The Trans Am shot from a standing start to a high speed in no time. I looked for the young guy next to us and he wasn’t there! It wasn’t long before he pulled abreast of us and we drove in formation. He looked over at us shook his head and smiled. Then, he blasted off! We did present a strange scene. Our Mother was 88, Jeanne was 60 and I was 62 all riding in a flashy Trans Am - large painting on the hood, and all.
So farewell Pontiac. Thanks for the ride.
RCL - 5/8/09.