Old Yeller
This morning, I had to visit one of my customers and pick up a heavy part, I have a 1500# lift gate on the 1976 Chevy ¾ ton pickem-up truck I bought new for $7,000 and some change.
She, they are always a ‘she’ for us guys I guess. She is relegated to a dual strip of concrete in the back field. For so many years I had kept my Old Yeller in the garage, but the Zero-turn mower, Kubota tractor and a dozen furnaces and air conditioners have edged her out.
I put the key in the ignition, turned it after pumping the accelerator about 5 times, vroom! Started right up. I imagine she wants to please me, so I will take her out for a spin more often.
I pulled around to the driveway, looked around for the electric passenger side door locks, there are none, had to lean across the seat and unlock the door so I could load some tools in front.
I was driving down the highway wondering if the door was all the way closed, no ‘door ajar’ lights on the dash, if it’s making more noise than usual, I guess it’s ajar.
I had a buddy in high school that told me that he just turned up the volume when he had new rattles, when he ran out of volume, it was time to get another car…
I enjoyed driving Old Yeller, not much works well in it, but we have been together for 280,000 miles, I have no plans on retiring her anytime soon.
I think that is why she starts up so well, she has no intention on quitting me.
I just may put a new coat of wax on her for the winter. I think she might like that.
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