Dad pulled up to the front of our little house in Flake in a brand new green Ford Mustang Coupe. It was spring 1969. My mom, my wife and I were in the front yard when he got there. He had a huge shit eating grin as he got out and looked across the top of it at mom. She stared at him wide eyed. "Poof! What a rediculous looking thing. I wont even ride in it!" she said in her most critical voice. The voice reserved for occasions when she just couldnt understand how anyone would do something as foolish as that.
Dad just grinned wider. He threw the keys to her. "Drive it around the block!" He ordered. She looked at him like he had lost all connection to reality. With an evil glare though she got in. Started it up and floored it. A spray of gravel billowed out and mom was gone. Moments later she came back to pull a sudden stop right in front of us. Out she got. She put the keys in her apron pocket. "I m keeping it." was all she said as she went in the house letting the door bang behind her.
My dad looked at me with a mix of amusement and amazement. Mom had never been accused of doing the expected. He was pretty sure she wouldnt like it. He hadnt counted on her loving it. "I bought it for you guys." he said while shaking his head. "You can have it as soon as you want to take over the payments. Looks like you might have a bit of trouble with your mother."
Over the next few months dad let us borrow it to go on little trips. Mom always scowled as we were leaving and gave her standard warning about being careful. We loved it. The wonderful smell of the black leather upholstry, the power it had and the feel of luxury were enticing. We knew dads intentions and we understood the love he was showing us by purchasing this beauty with us in mind. He d payed a substantial down on it and the remaining payments were pretty minimal. He d gotten an extra good buy on it. We were excited about making it ours. The only snag was mom. She had fallen madly, head over heels, in love with it. I swear she went outside every night and kissed it goodnight before going to bed. That little Mustang got more attention from her than anyone ever had.
Time flew by. Mom dug in her heals and refused to even discuss letting us take over the car. When the subject came up whe would simply say "Oh poof!" and leave the room. We bought ourselves a different car and watched moms love affair with amusement. From the start mom took delight in driving it. She loved pulling into a service station and seeing the young men look enviously at the 'old' lady in her 60s driving a hot sporty car. She proudly waved at neighbors are she road in her regal convenience. It rarely got out of her sight.
They used it mostly for small trips because it was a second car. It took mom daily to the corner grocers. A trip of an entire 1/2 block that was certainly essential. Now and then over the next few years it was their transportation to the city or to come and visit us. It was pretty much like having a pet for mom. She babied it. She even insisted that a garage be built just for it. With the passing of time dad became ill and spent several months in hospital. Mom drove every weekend to be with him. Four hours to the city, four hours home. It carried her through raging winter storms and blazing summer days to dads side. Dad died with mom at his side in early summer just a few weeks before his 65th birthday.
Mom continued to live in Flake. A widow now and fiercely independent. She continued to drive her school bus run and the little Mustang carried her faithfully for the next 10 years. It provided her transportation to groceries, vacations, errands and the 1/2 block drive to the corner store. She loved that car. Often she would remind me that it would be mine someday but not until she was through with it. She took wonderful care of it with one exception. Dad was a Ford Technician and a John Deere mechanic. He always serviced his own vehicles. Mom had no incling of what service entailed. No one ever told her she needed to change the oil and check that it was topped off. She blew the motor as a consequence. Of course she had the motor replaced and got a local mechanic to coach her on the care and attention the vehicle needed beyond its nightly bedtime kiss.
Ten years slipped by rather quickly. Mom re-married. I wouldnt suggest that I was or am fond of the man she married. He feels the same way about me. His only redeeming value in my mind is that he has always been good to mom. They have continued to live in moms house and long ago worked out their arrangements with each other. Visiting with mom has been difficult since her marriage to him. He and I are both very evidently uncomfortable in each others company. I feel bad that we cant have a better connection but sometimes thats what life deals. Mom is content with him and thats whats important.
Mom has kept the Mustang for the past 25 plus years. They rarely use it even though they both have held their drivers licenses all this time. Mom finally gave hers up on her 93 birthday even though she passed both the physical and the driver testing. She called me when she decided she didnt want to drive anymore and said I could have the Mustang. There was a note of sadness in her voice as she said the words. I know the act of giving it to me signified a milestone in her life. The changes and the loss of independence that are represented by that act are huge to her. She has been a very strong and independent woman all her life and she isnt at all pleased that she is becoming limited in her abilities. Thats pretty understandable.
Something happened. I dont know what. A few days after her initial call she called again. Her husband was unhappy about giving up the Mustang so I d better just leave it there. Ok. I feel resentment. He has a relatively new truck thats is more comfortable for them both. The Mustang hasnt been moved in two years although it has been started every now and then and allowed to run for a short time. I sense that there have been words and the mom isnt very comfortable about the situation. Having the Mustang is less important to me than her feelings and her stress. If it is going to cause problems for her then best that it stay there. I m careful to relay to her that I wont make an issue about it. I even tell her that in the long term I wont make a fuss with her husband or his family over estate things even though I feel there is some inequity happening.
Last week things changed. Her husband is hospitalized. Mom has gone into a temporary respite facility while he is away. They Homecare nurses and her doctor say that she is to fragile to be alone in their house. I took a few days to spend with her before she went into the facility. At that time she told me she wanted me to take the Mustang while her husband isnt there. She said it would be less fuss than if he were present. I asked her about him perhaps being upset. She responded that it really didnt matter. She said he has always known that the Mustang would be mine and that she wants it done before anything happens to her.
Getting it back to the city presented some challenges. I took a good look at it. It started well but there is a major oil leak on the garage floor underneath the motor. The interior is impeccable but the body has a few dings and some rust. Tires arent so good. There are still some dents on the roor and the hood caused by the deer mom hit on her way home from having deer whistles installed. (lol) It has always been insured in the manner that any vehicle in use would be. If it were in an accident the coverage would be minimal because it has not been appraised as an antique. There is no where near Flake to get an appraisal although the necessary mechanical inspection could be done there. I m uncomfortable about driving it without adequate insurance.
The final decision was to have it transported to the city. It now is now sitting at my mechanics shop waiting for inspection and appraisal. There ya have it.