Picture it. 1983, San Augustine, Texas. I don’t remember the exact day, but I remember exactly where I was. I was lounging in my garden tub, reading book, as was my habit. My husband, Clark, came in the house after work, and told me he had a surprise for me. i got out of the tub, wrapped a towel around me and went outside, we lived in the country, so no one was around to see.
Clark and I got married in 1977, at that time I had a 1968 Delmont 88, which I had gotten in 1974, as a graduation gift from my parents. I used this car throughout my college years at the University of Texas. It had its share of problems, namely a leaking water pump. I always had a 5-gallon bucket of water in the trunk to fill the radiator when the car would begin to run hot. **I at least knew enough not to ignore the lights when they came on ;)** When Clark graduated from UT, we moved to San Augustine, Texas. On the map, it looked beautiful, situated between Lake Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend Reservoir.
When we moved to San Augustine, Clark had a Ford Econoline van, which we purchased while living in Austin and attending college. He had taken this panel van and build in couches which converted to a large bed in the back and put in an ice box. He was pulling an 8′ X 36″ trailer, which we had purchased from a deer camp, that is another story in itself :), while I followed in my car.
Fast forward, I went outside and saw a brand-new Mercury Grand Marquis LS. Black with red velvet interior. It was a thing to behold, my very first brand new car. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I vowed I would take exceptional care of it. Then life happened.
After my youngest son was born, I had to have a hysterectomy. My husband was on the way to visit me in the hospital with my 2-year-old twins and my 1-year-old baby. when the oil pump went out. He had the car towed home, and we used our pick up until he could repair the car.
The back seat of the car eventually held 3 car seats at one time. It became the repository of goldfish, thrown milk bottles, and all sorts of other items thrown by 3 infants/toddlers. The car served us well, taking us to Edinburg, McAllen, Austin, and Houston Texas. It transported me to Nacogdoches to attend Stephen F. Austin University. Our family loved this car.
Time travel to 1991. We had traveled the Texas Forestry Service Indian Mounds Nursery in Alto, Texas. We had just purchased some pine and cypress saplings to plant at our farm. Uh oh, on our way home the car stopped in the middle of the road. We had the car towed home for Clark to repair. He replaced the water pump, no go. Thought it might be the oil pump again. Life got in the way and the car just set.
Jump to February this year. We finally decided it was time to get rid of our car, we weren’t going to be able to get it running and in good shape. We travelled to the farm this weekend and loaded it on a trailer. This week my very 1st new car will be going to a scrap yard. It is hard to turn loose of some things. This is one of them. I hate to see it go, but know it is for the best, I can’t hang on because of sentiment.
We opened the trunk; 1st time in 23 years. Any guesses on what we found?
A water pump, a compressor, and a computer box. Look at the size of that trunk! you could hide several bodies in it!
PS. We also found several coins. Who remembers using the ash trays as coin holders?
