Issue 14.14
Something happened to me this past week that I must sort out and live with. Let me back up to the start of my story.
The year was 1993. I was “retired” but playing at my love which was managing
campgrounds and “RVing”. We needed a three axel 5th wheel trailer in which to live in, whatever location we desired and a three quarter ton pickup truck to pull .our new home. We chose a diesel powered Dodge.
Ships and planes are referred to as “she” so why not wheeled vehicles. We gave our pickup the name of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” which we had painted on a conspicuous place on her body. We also got her a personalized tag for her front and rear.
Chitty did all the heavy work that we required and never complained. We traveled together to all of the Western states and then she took us all the way to the Atlantic Ocean and back home by the Northern route in two different years.
Chitty’s life wasn’t all roses. She was injured two different times by angry or careless eighteen wheelers and both times she spent time in the hospital but each time she came out as shinny new as before.
Chitty never shirked her work and she seemed happy to do things together.
The fun and exciting times are all in the past and now Chitty sat alone in the driveway. She had no work to do and no place to go. She was so sad that her battery went dead. An old friend of mine felt sorry for Chitty and offered to put her back to work again. That would be better than for her to rust away to nothing. I charged Chitty’s battery and then said goodbye.
I can never forget her. We spent many happy exciting years together. I think back to a long ago book I read entitled “Smokie” which was about a great horse that was sold a number of times and ended up pulling a junk man’s wagon. I hope I haven’t sold my faithful friend to end up becoming a junkman’s truck. If you see Chitty in a parking lot, please do us both a favor and give her a loving pat.
Sam can be contacted at 801-707-2666.