Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Still Running

still running photo


Still Running

View On Black ~ In the Hyde Park neighborhood, by the IC Tracks. Seen better days on the outside, but still runs the streets. Compared to todays cars, this is like driving a tank. A real "heavy Chevy."



I once rode to go fishing in Wisconsin in a car like this. I was 11 or so. and it was 1962 or '63. It was at night and we drifted in and out of fog banks on two lane blacktops at 110 mph. Heaven help whatever we hit, was the thinking, I suppose.



All the adults were drunk. We were flying along dark back country roads. The smell was a seductive mixture of bay rum hair oil, perfume, whiskey and coke, and Chesterfield and Camel smokes combined with the heady, deep-and-musty, earth-scent of Wisconsin farmland, and stands of pine and fir trees. Sleep was my only defense. That and "He's So Fine." by the Chiffons as it played over the tinney-sounding AM radio.



I don't think I ever told my mom and dad about this one. They may have been pissed. Then again, in 1963 people were more - forgiving - of having their children around adults doing "adult" things. As long as we survived, I guess.



I must admit I look back on that trip with great fondness.