8 Track Memories

Chapter 24

Driving down the highway

Sometimes rebuilding a car can be an indication of rebuilding a life – JB and Carol 1976

I wake up in the morning

Fold my hands and pray for rain

I got a head full of ideas

That are drivin' me insane –

Bob Dylan Maggie’s Farm Bob Dylan The Essential Bob Dylan


8 Track Memories

JB came driving, possibly sliding into the drive of the South 20. He parked near the old barn that both he and Carol had been converting into a produce and fruit market. A strange beep, beep like from the coyote and roadrunner cartoons went off. It was near the end of the second summer Carol had been trying to make a go here on the old family farm. The apple harvest looked like it would be good. The newest trees were too young to produce much fruit but were healthy. JB had built raised beds according Carol’s specifications mostly for strawberries. Strawberries were making money and although JB had questioned raised beds in his inimitable style of colorful metaphors. He now saw how much easier it made strawberries. He even offered suggestions to make them more productive or easier maintain. It had been eight months since Carol had gone to Bill’s bar to keep him out of trouble. He had definitely changed since then. Many discussions about the war, the changes in the country, had transpired, neither argued just made their point of view heard. Both realized how little they had in common when not working on the farm. Both learned from each other, and both enjoyed Hayes Pond. They had each needed something and healed each other. They didn’t bond with each other; they accepted each other’s needs. They were now like friends in school who are thrown together and appreciate each other even if not together by choice. Carol came out to see what had made the funny little beeps.

JB began, “It is really a beauty don’t you think. A 1970 Plymouth Road Runner. It needed an engine overhaul, but they gave me a space at the dealership. I appreciate you paid me beyond rent and I’ve cut back on the booze. I had the money to get this running.”

“You earned the money; you’ve put in almost every night after work this summer. It is orange.”

“I really like it, some like that lime green, but I really like the orange and the way the trim looks. Did you hear the horn?”

“Yes, I did, oh I see the decal it is the road runner. Is this a hot rod?”

“They call them muscle cars. After them OPECkers jacked us around some said the muscle car was over, but I am only driving it for fun. I got the truck for work. This doesn’t get much worse mileage than the truck if you stay out of the six barrel. I’m still working on the radio I think the antenna cable is broke but the 8-track works. Hearing it fire up after we had worked so hard to get it back together, it was one of the best things I ever heard. You have to let me take you for a ride so you can hear it run.”

“Once I decide it’s safe, possibly.”

“We’ve checked it out. It has low miles considering it is six years old; they blew the engine and it sat in a shed for two years.”

“Are you sure you are a safe driver?”

“Hey hey, I can handle this. Besides out here in the country all you have to do is keep it between the fence posts.”

Carol looked inside: bucket seats, manual shift, and a small back seat, not very useful looking. "It does look to be in good shape. I’m glad you are having fun.”

“I haven’t filled up since we got it running. I need to run down to the station at the highway. Would you like to ride along?”

“OK JB, but if you kill me in this deathtrap, I will never speak to you again.”

“Oh, that’s a joke isn’t it?”

“Yes, JB it was.”

“I got this Credence tape, and I bought one from the Outlaws. I really like the song ‘Good Hearted Woman.’ I found two absolute crap tapes in the trunk. One was Zappa Money something and other was another piece of trash from The Fugs. Not hard to guess why they were left.”

I had to laugh while hearing his opinion of my ex-boyfriend’s music. Cosmo or David, the worthless Hippie, had loved Zappa. It was hard to listen to Zappa and not remember the crappy boyfriend. Zappa music had lost its appeal. When we got back to my place, I had to agree it was more exciting than my pickup.

Then JB asked if I would like to go to this party reunion event. “I didn’t actually graduate; I was in Vietnam the year I would have graduated. They are having a whole hog roast and a band. They invite people who have been out of school four years. Whose class graduated after 65. I kind of want to go. I’m trying to be more normal not the wild man I was. They asked me to invite you, some would like to meet you. They thought you might enjoy meeting others who were your age. Several of those who don’t live here come back for this reunion. It has become a tradition. I would like you to go because I need you to keep me out of trouble.”

“Lord JB talk about asking for an impossible task.”

“Yeah, but I won’t get drunk if you’re there.”

“I am not doing a Farmer’s Market on Saturday and the apple season hasn’t started yet. I can afford a Friday night to meet the locals.”

“Thank you I have a couple of old friends who will be there. It is time to be just one of the guys not the wild-eyed vet.”





photo gui