Roadside Vision
I have cars on the brain maybe.
On the road to town there is an old car
that reminds me of old photos Mom saved.
Her pictures always struck me as from a Once Upon a Time era that was never truly real.
But the car I pass en route to town
is a daily reminder of a living past.
I found a photo Mom saved of her family’s new car, but Bill said, “No, that isn’t the same one we see on the way to town.” Or, is it?
The Grandparents’ New Car – No Date provided.
Does anyone know anything about this Once Upon a Time vehicle that belonged to my grandparents?
What year is it? And what make? And I wonder how much it was to buy?
Even if it is not a match for today’s roadside version, it still stirs my imagination and I yearn to take a trip back in time.
Oh for a visit to my grandparents who must have been excited to have a new car, to the aunts and uncles and cousins who may have lined up to see it, and the kids who wished for the keys.
They were my own family and their lives went by before I ever got to know them. But they are all somehow lingering and alive in that flat tired, beat up apparition I see almost every day on the way to town.
The swirling winds of time… hope you can find a classic car specialist to help you, Dor. Have a Hoppy Easter! 🙂
LikeLike
It is enough I think, that the roadside car provides an imaginary trip to the past.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe a Dodge I will ask Ron but I think he has a hood ornament like that. Happy Easter.
LikeLike
Thanks Eunice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like your roadside vision has a flat. There is an antique car in our neighborhood. The owners keep it in the driveway uncovered all year round. It’s not as old as the one in the picture.
LikeLike
The old car I see now is a total mess – paint worn off, the flat tire….. another mysterious abandoned reminder of days gone by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a tough one. Looks like something from the 40s and my first guess would be a Dodge or a Ford. Sadly google images let me down on a better identification.
LikeLike
Thanks for trying Andrew! After more thinking, it may not be important to know the car’s origins. I am satisfied now that it reminds me of the people who enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looks a whole lot like my mother’s ’48 Dodge. I’m not saying that’s what it is, but it sure looks like it! Have a wonderful Easter.
Love, Julie
_____
LikeLike
You are the third person who says it may be a Dodge from the 40’s. I’ll bet it is. And now I think I will look up the hood ornament to see if there is a match.
LikeLike
Nostalgia of the finest sort!
LikeLike
:)Thanks Anne. Who knew a car could dredge up such thoughts?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful writing Dor. About memories, what we forget, who were are now as we age. Age
seems to be a time of involuntarily looking back, to try and sum up the unsummable. It is beautiful and bittersweet and final.
LikeLike
Wow! Talk about beautiful writing. You are definitely multi-talented Cindy.
LikeLike
Dor, what a touching post. All the special times we shared with family, many of whom we have lost touch with, and many of whom are no longer with us. It’s a tender and sad time to ponder.
LikeLike
You are so right Ronnie. And think of all the family experiences there were in that old car.
LikeLike
Hi Dor. Isn’t it sad that we really know so little of our ancestors’ daily lives? Your car reminds me of the one Sallyann at Photographic Memories who posted such a car in June 2012 – https://hallysann.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/cars/. She set me a challenge and this was the genesis for my story on The Bonnets.
LikeLike
Just like a trip back in a time machine…or at least down memory lane. I have numerous photos of my dad’s cars from way back. I just wish I had written down all the stories he told me about them. Hope you get some good answers to your questions!
LikeLike
🙂 Thanks Cindy. I am just going to look up “hood ornaments” now.
LikeLike
classic 🙂
LikeLike
Thankyou! 🙂
LikeLike
How nice that they live on in your memory Dor!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
First car I remember was a model called ‘Terraplane’ (sp?). This is an interesting older car of your grandparents and maybe someone will come up with the make. I have photo of our ‘Terraplane’ will look up; it had running boards so a little different than this one; maybe the library would have info on older makes of cars?
LikeLike
Thanks Kit. I never heard of a Terraplane – sounds very futuristic huh?
LikeLike