Jewells of Thought

The past few weeks have been just a little emotional. Two grandfathers have died in my community. I detailed how a great-granddaughter took me back to my own Grandpa’s funeral reminding me how much I miss all my grandpa’s and great-grandpa I got to meet. Our elders are a treasure.

The last couple of weeks at McDonald’s I have noticed a certain truck. It may not be the same exact truck every time, but I will almost always notice one like it. Grandpa Freddy had a Ford truck, I don’t remember from what year only the striking color; green. It fit him because John Deere’s colors were green and yellow. My last memories of him are of him and Grandma going on day trips to various places in his Green Ford.

As a teenager I remember my cousin and I would take turns driving it. On weekends Papaw would treat us to Backstreet Pizza and I still remember me and Lilly volunteering to pickup the pizza since we both had our drivers licenses. Even now 20 some years later the drive over to Sullivan those memories can hit me whether I am driving or someone else.

Today I saw a truck at McDonald’s again. Then not long ago after dinner I noticed something at the neighbors, but went on to get my 20 minutes on the bike downstairs. When I came back up it was like it was happening to me all over again when we had to sell off Papaws truck eventually. The Retired Preacher’s truck was gone. Obviously I am not owed an explanation. Part of me hopes it was a child, grandson or granddaughter that wanted the truck to remember him by, for the weeks and months, years to come. If this is the case of what took place earlier. It just really struck me hard today and makes me miss Grandpa Freddy all the more.

When I had my learner’s permit Papaw had me drive that truck to what we called the affectionately the other Farm Headquarters. It was the mobile gas truck for the combine and whatever needed gas quickly. I’ll never forget that drive from the Worthington field to my Uncle’s place as the farm headquarters on the east side of town.

Do you have memories and vehicles that just remind you of someone special? I really wish I had a photo of Papaw with his truck.