GOODBYE RELIABLE ONE!

GOODBYE MY RELIABLE ONE!
I finally decided to sell our Buick, even though I am licensed until November 11, 2012. Joan and I were discussing my emotion on my decision, after driving a car for 75 years. I have mixed emotions. I was sad when Manny said that he had sold our Buick Century (on Craig’s’ List) to the first caller. He is quite a marketing genius, because he sold my Ford Escort to the first caller a few years ago. But, also, I was relieved. No more concern about maintenance, licensing, smogging, insurance and exposure of the car to the weather. What a load off!
Before going to bed for the past 20 months, I have always looked out my bedroom window, and checked on our car parked below. I wanted to make sure that the car was still there, and no one was siphoning the gas - even though we are living in a “gated community”. I still can’t get used to seeing the empty “04”, reserved spot, in our parking lot.
While the Buick had less than 57,000 miles on the odometer, (just broken in !),I have driven, at least the equivalent, of 30 times around the world during my 65 years of licensed driving. As I recall, I received only two tickets for moving violations during all those years of driving.
The first one was in 1937 for “speeding” on Washtenaw avenue, a nice residential area in Ann Arbor (housing many University of Michigan fraternities). The posted speed limit was 35mph, and I was going down the grade at 45! I was late on my way to work. The “stop” was so traumatic that I promised myself that I would never get a speeding ticket again. I kept my promise. That’s why I have the reputation for driving in the slow lane at 55 mph.
The second ticket was a strange one. The military could expect this harassment of the military in the South during WWII. Marie and I were on our way out to the Air Base, in Greenville, SC. I was driving on this long sweeping curve to my left (after all the intervening years, I can still accurately picture it!). The car ahead of me was going about 35mph. The driver stuck his arm out the window and waved me by. I had good visibility, and I could see that the coast was clear. So, I passed him. I hadn’t anymore pulled back into the lane, when he turned on his siren. (It was an un-marked car!). I pulled over on the shoulder and stopped. He came to my window and said that he was giving me a ticket for passing on a curve. He was the typical stereotype, of the Southern police officer, that we all have seen in the movies and in the TV commercials. He told me to appear in Traffic Court on Tuesday. I told him that I was flying on Tuesday. Then, he said, you can give me your $5 fine. I told him that I didn’t have any cash on me. Then, he said, “I’ll follow you out to the Base, and you can get a check cashed at the Officers’ Club.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! So, he followed me out to the Base, and waited for me outside the Officers’ Club, to cash my check. I came back to his car, and gave him a $5 bill. No receipt. So it was bye - bye baby! True story!
During the past 65 years I (or we) have owned twelve cars:- all new except for the first two, and the 1957 Ford.
1924 Model T touring car.
1931 Model A coupe (no rumble seat!)
1940 Chevrolet two door
1941 Chevrolet convertible
1947 Kaiser four door
1952 Chevrolet coupe
1957 Ford - 9 passenger station wagon
1963 Chevrolet II 9 passenger station wagon (Gertrude).
1971 Chevrolet coupe (“Blue Flame”,)
1983 Buick Skylark coupe
1988 Ford Escort two door
1994 BUICK CENTURY!

RCL 12/19/09.