That car has been through a lot with our family. It had really become a trusted friend, kind of like a favorite pet I suppose. It was definitely showing its age with considerable rust on the roof and at the bottom of the doors; kind of like the graying hair that graces an aging gentleman.
Aubrey would have been 10 years old when we brought that Buick home back in 1989, Elsha was 8 and Lauren was 6. It was the first family car that all of the kids drove. Of course, I used it to get to work for many years. I used it to commute to Orem when I worked for WordPerfect. And it spent a lot of time in Rexburg with Elsha and Lauren. Somehow Aubrey never did get it over to Hawaii. Elsha and Tyler used it for a while after they were married and living in Provo, but I think they got tired of the minor repair bills and it eventually ended up back at home. It really ran pretty well after they gave it back.
The Buick had a reputation for being a run-away horse. You’d have to keep your foot on the brake to keep it from running away from you, especially down a hill. It was a good glider; it liked to go 50 in a 35 zone with your foot clear off the gas. Whoa Nellie!
I remember the day before I was sustained as Bishop. I drove the Buick over to the Church to secretly meet with Bishop Dressen so he could fill me in on some of the things I’d need to know. I parked the Buick back by the baseball field. When I came out of the Church, there was a big dent on the car. Someone had hit a baseball and it landed right on the hood. Unfortunately, I was so worried about the Bishop responsibility that a dent on the care was about the last thing I was going to get concerned about. I never did get it repaired.
As the years went by, the Buick started to show its age. The power window in the back seat would sometimes go down, but not come back up. I'd have to grab hold of and try to pull it back up. Finally, I just disconnected so it wouldn't get stuck in the down position. I think Aubrey got in a fender bender in the Buick, as did Elsha. It started to look like a hand-me-down teen-ager’s car. I replaced the front bumper with parts from a junkyard after one of those crashes. That’s why it had that odd looking white panel under the front bumper (see photo above). Lauren had to pay for some fairly major repairs while up at school in Rexburg, but I don’t think she ever wrecked it. I was surprised none of the kids ever had a major breakdown in it at some remote location between here and Rexburg. Well at least it didn’t meet the same fate that Grandpa Hemingway’s Buick did when Elsha was driving it home from Rexburg and it caught on fire on Malad Pass (remember Elsha, just turn the key off next time).
Anyway, good-bye old friend. Thanks for getting us around all those years. I’ll probably miss you more than Aubrey misses Greg (Cedric our old cat). That cat continues to give, he’s been pretty good fertilizer in the flower bed. But I bet that old Buick will help some kidney patient enjoy a little better life, too.
3 comments:
Very well written, it was as if you were writing a obiturary for a very good friend!!
I remember the day you bought the car (actually, I think you brought it home at night after we were all asleep) but I recall spending a good part of the next morning in the new car, reveling in it's power locks and windows, opening every tiny trash bin and the glove compartment. The old Buick really did become a part of our family.
I also remember trying to sound out the name as it was imprinted on the dashboard. I think I called it a buck. My 8 year old reading skills had a hard time putting a meaning to the work Buick I think which is why I mispronounced it.
You're forgetting to mention that it was the most comfortable car ever made. Even with all the high tech, ergonomical seats these days, I still found the straight back and seat of the Buick the most comfortable for my not so perfect back. I also loved that the front seat was all one seat. My friends used to find it humorous that they would have to rock the seat with me if I needed to move it up. I also loved the adjustability of the windshield wipes which you don't find any more. And, it was so spacious.
I don't exactly remember the fender bender which resulted in the replacement of the bumper but I do remember the Buick growing old: having to rev the engine as we started it 2 or 3 times while we had it in Provo to keep it running. Tucking a tightly folded piece of paper into the power button to keep the radio on. Being frantic when some unknowing soul would roll the rear window down because you feared it would never go back up.
What a good car! It has served our family well. We (Tyler and I) would have adopted it again had we not thought it would have died on the trail out here. Farewell, dear Buick. I hope you are able to help another deserving family now.
As the buick grew older and older I felt a keen sence of loyalty to her. She was an awsome car, taking me everywhere I needed or wanted to go. I feel a little saddened to say that I was growing a little embarassed to drive her, feeling that I was an eye sore to the rest of the driving community, but I did love her and appreciated her service to me over the years. Lauren
Post a Comment