Oddly troubling day...

[lloyd3]

Got a text from my brother about a fellow I went to grade school with a long time ago now (not kids anymore, we were both born in 1958). He was on his way to work last week and got about a mile from his house when he somehow lost control of his big red RAM 3/4 ton PU truck, spinning several times, hitting the guardrails twice, and was ejected from the passenger side of the vehicle (nobody back there ever wore seatbelts when we were kids, I guess he still didn't?). He did not survive and there were simply no witnesses. Speculation is that he was trying to miss a deer (or several) on the wet road and lost control. His wife of 35-years & family are in complete shock and his several grandkids are wondering what happened to Grampa. The last time I had a chance to visit with this schoolmate of mine was shortly before I also got married and left Pennsylvania for destinations then unknown, so...maybe 38-years ago?  It's been on my mind all day, so this afternoon I just went for a drive...



The only way to get away from it all out here anymore is to head east.



My brother called to chat some more on my way, so I pulled over in a little church parking lot and turned the car off (hard to have a conversation with 7.21 liters rumbling away... and my hearing seems to be shot anymore anyway)



Always have a fire bottle handy...

The drone of that big engine and the almost empty road was soothing somehow, and I just kept going. No traffic to speak of, great road conditions, and the temperatures were perfect on this early June day.  The car ran smoothly and strongly (it wasn't on a short trip earlier, it really needs a good long run every once in a while). I kept thinking about all the folks that have checked-out lately in my own little world and the circumstances of their demise (at least what I know of them).  There... is simply no rhyme or reason for many of them, and a lot have gone way-before their time IMHO.  In seemingly an instant, I found myself way out on the great plains of Colorado, ending up in the town of Bennet. I looked around a little (not really much to see there, I guess), so I stopped to stretch my legs, grab some water, and turned the nose of the car back south & west (no I-70 for me in this unit), and headed back for home.  

I'm left with this....you better make every day count from here on out, because you simply never know when your number is the very next one up. Somehow driving a 54-year old car out in the middle of nowhere helped me arrive at all that.  My little time-capsule...things always seem clearer there.

[dreamcatcher]

Beautiful car and I agree. I feel the same way. I put in an 8 track and cruise at a nice speed and JUST REMEMBER A BETTER TIME! I have lost so many people that meant so much to me. We just realize that as we get older we loose people and think wow. Glad it helped it always does for me. A bad time can go away even if it is for a little while. Thanks for your post.

[ramairthree]

There are few things that don't seem better after a drive like that.

[Kern Dog]

That is a lot to think about.

[bakerhillpins]

Unfortunately most of us figure out life is to short when we are already short on time. Try to get it in when you can.  Went out with my son over the holiday weekend just for the drive after several busy days catching up on todos at the house. Car runs, can't say much more than that, but we got a chance to talk and be away from it all. Not too much more room for this stuff and he's out of college and off on his own. Then it's a few times a year at best.  Not sure if that's good or bad at the moment...