If one has lived long enough chances are there have been some statements said to them that they have never forgotten. Classic statements I call them.
With that statement often there is a picture of who, when, where, most everything about what was said has stayed with them. Probably some of those statements can still today make one smile, laugh and in some cases do just the opposite. Recently upon seeing a 1957 Chevy I had to smile when I recalled something my dad once said to me.
In 1959 my dad bought a car. Not a new car but a "new" to us car. By the way back then families often had only one car. The family car. There was no mom's car, dad's car or junior's car. One car, the family car. Back in my dating days guys did a lot of doubling dating. An often ask question of one of your buddies during the week, "What night this week-end can you get your car?" So you would plan say Friday night you get your family's car and Saturday night you would double-date and then reserve the process next week.
Ok. In 1959 my dad bought a 1957 Chevrolet. Bought it from Tiffin's Auto Sales, only place my dad bought his cars. My dad was the kind of person if he once bought something from someone and was pleased, treated what he considered fairly, he was their customer for life.
Dad brought this "new" car home late at night, placed it in the garage. I had not seen the car. The next morning at breakfast he announces to me he had traded cars. Then tells me it was a 1957 Chevy. I about fell out of my chair when hearing this, a '57 Chevy. He goes on to tell me, that it was a hardtop, V-8 stick-shift. Well he didn't say stick shift, his words was standard shift. Oh...my. Now I was getting excited. A 1957 Chevrolet was a big deal in the late 1950s'. Still is today, I recently saw a '57 Chevy convertible sell for $70,000 and a two door hard-top in good condition still today will bring anywhere from $40,000 upwards. Now I am beside myself with the announcement of this information. The Adamson's with A '57 Chevy, V-8 stick shift, hard-top. Don't get much better than this. Man old man, dad has really come through this time.
Upon hearting all this automotive information I jumped up from the table, I'm out the door headed to the garage. I get to the garage, swing open the door, wow. There it is. Truly is a '57 Chevy. Yes, hardtop, had the V-8 emblem. Oh this is too good to believe. Like our nine year old grandson who saw the continuous running chocolate machine at the restaurant we took the family for dinner this past mother's day, his words, "This is the greatest day of my life." My exact feelings upon standing in the garage seeing my family's latest purchase.
Then it hits. Can't be. Surley I didn't look right. I had looked in the window, maybe I should slide in behind the wheel. Get a closer look. I do. Still the same. It's can't be. Nobody would do something like this. I check all the instruments and looking to the right of the panel I still see the same thing. No radio. No radio. Who in their right mind in 1959 buys a car, especially a 1957 Chevy, hard-top V-8 beautiful color car, stick shift and no radio?
I hit the kitchen door running. My dad was sitting at his usual early morning place and his usual routine. End of kitchen table, coffee cup to his left and the paper to his right. Probably reading "Alley Oop" or "Dagwood." "Dad, dad." He looks up. "Dad that car doesn't have a radio."
His response--------------------- a classic line to a seventeen year old teenage boy.
"Radio, radio if you want to listen to the radio come in the house."
Classic lines. You got any you remember? Bet so.
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August 14, 2016
Keep on,
Larry Adamson