I broke a promise to the 67 this week. I promised that I would not subject her to the god forsaken road salt on the streets of Rochester this year. Then it happened, on the way home from work the dreaded Trac Off and Anti Lock lights lit up like a Christmas tree on the dash of the Alero. A quick call to the dealer and the Mass Transit Machine could be dropped off for warranty repairs. It was a cold morning the next day when It turned out I had to go to the plant, a couple of wayward projects needed some final touches. Turning on the lights in the garage I slowly rolled back the soft cover, walked around admiring the bright red shine and the sparkle on the bumpers. Popped the lid, checked the oil, turned around and lifted the garage door open. A blast of sub zero cold air filled the garage and sent a chill right down to my very bones. Inside the bug I gave pause, apologized to the old girl and asked her for a favor. Just one trip back and forth to work, I promise and I will wash every last crystal of salt off of you this weekend. A couple of pumps on the pedal... a turn of the key and sputter,sputter, sputter. Damn no choke Kads. Turn two on the key... Sputter, Sputter, Cough, Cough, and then she fired. Eased the shiny red bug into reverse and crept out and down the driveway. Popped the emergency brake on, went back in the house, retrieved my coffee, closed the garage door on the way out and hopped back in. There is something about the sound of duel carbs sucking down frigid cold crisp air. The 67 is alive and awake once again. A nice fish tail around the first corner, straighten her out and motor down the road plowing through about 3 inches of fluff on the road to the expressway entrance. In the summer time I am use to getting the occasional thumbs up or nod in the direction of the car, but driving on I-390 in the dead of winter wind howling, drifting snow and generally yucky conditions generated more of a look like "Are you nuts?" An uneventful day at work the weather on the other hand just kept getting worse. A full travel advisory was in effect by afternoon. I counted twelve cars of all kinds off the side of the road on the way home, including one of those big Ford SUVs. I wonder what those people were thinking as I passed by. Pulled into my driveway, jumped out opened the garage door, glided the old girl into her spot and shut her down. After buttoning up the garage and right before I retired to the warmth of the house I turned on the light to inspect the salt build up under the fenders, I just shook my head. GD NY State. As I started to shut the door I stopped, glanced over my shoulder and thanked the 67 for a job well done. Just before the door latch clicked shut and I could go about the business of family life I could have sworn I heard the words "Your Welcome" .
- posted
20 years ago