The Pick-Up Truck

Mother Nature, I'm convinced is all woman. She can't seem to make up her mind and can be quite moody at times. Take yesterday and today for example. Yesterday it is hot, in the 90's and humid. Later we had quite a few storms and I think maybe a tornado, though I haven't watched the weather to confirm. Today it is in the lower 60's. That's a 30 degree difference people! Now tell me that ain't the work of a woman!

My friend, Anna had borrowed a new Chrysler Convertible from the dealership I use to work at. She really had no intentions of buying but since we know several people there they let her "test drive" it for a day. Usually I make fun of people who drive around town on cold days with the top down but after today I will no longer do that.

At 1:51 pm I walked into Anna's office and announced that we had missed Two Stamp Tuesday at our favorite coffee house but she insisted we had enough time to make it. We grabbed our purses and Christy and ran out the door. Christy, who was in the back wanted the top down. So Anna obliged, put the top down and cranked the heater on full blast. Silly I know. We got about half way and Christy was freezing so the top went up. We got our coffee (actually Italian Creme Soda for me) and were on our way back to the office. I sat in the back this time and since unlike Christy I had my coat on we put the top back down. The wind was whipping around my face and I had to concentrate just to keep breathing because the wind was trying to take it away. I closed my eyes, leaned my head back and was instantly transformed to my childhood.

****************************

I'm about 13 years old, my mouth is full of metal, and its warm outside. My daddy, driving his brown pick-up truck is coming down our dirt road. Momma has some groceries packed in brown sacks, they're sitting on the bar waiting to be loaded into the truck. After a few minutes the bags are loaded into the truck as well as a lawn mower and weed eater. I climb in back and take my spot in the middle of the toolbox. Dad starts the truck and backs down the dirt drive way and then goes, dust flying everywhere from being kicked up on the dirt road, but it isn't long before we're on black top and the air clears. I know it's going to take about 10 minutes to get where we're going so I just close my eyes. The road twists and turns and we go along and only when we get to Jim Clay Hill do I find the little holes where each lid of the box hinges to hold on. Jim Clay is a steep hill with several right and left twists but soon we're at the bottom and I let go again. My long brown hair is flying around my face and I can't hear a thing except the roar of the motor and the wind rushing past my ears. But wait, ratta tatta tatta tattta tattta tatta... the bridge, who could miss that sound? A couple more twist and turns and we back on a dirt road and soon at our destination. I open my eyes.

***************************
We're back at work.