As we approach the end of the year there is a lot of reminiscing going on. Since this is The Villages, there may be more thinking back per square mile than anywhere in the world. Heck, that might even be a slogan – “The Villages – More Reminiscing than Anyplace in the World.” Perhaps, I should mention that to someone and win a big marketing award. I have a son and granddaughter in marketing, and it would show them that I can win a marketing award too. Of course, those who present marketing awards might not agree and give the award to someone else. Rats!
One item that folks in The Villages constantly reminisce about is a car or cars. Most of them have big memories about a car from their youth, and they have either bought one like it or constantly cuss because they no longer have it. If they have one, they manage to get their picture taken with a car that looks better than the day it was new – usually a bigger engine too, not to mention seat belts for Pete’s sake.
I am in the category of “cussing” since I no longer have the one I would like to have. It was a blue 1959 Nash Rambler – with a continental tire kit! It was the first car that The Blonde in the house and I bought new. The darn thing cost $2000, and it was between the Rambler and a Peugeot which cost the same. The Blonde thought the Peugeot was too noisy so the Rambler was it. We were so excited that we decided to go to a restaurant and celebrate – something which we did not do that often in those days. Just as we pulled into a parking space at the restaurant a new Rolls Royce pulled in alongside of us. That put the whole matter into a new perspective.
The Rambler stayed with us for many a year. We even drove it from Pennsylvania and New Jersey to visit my parents in the St. Petersburgh area. The Rambler was a small car, and with our oldest being born the same year as the car, our son took up the back seat with his porta-crib. That left little room for luggage, so we bought a car top carrier. One day as we were traveling down to Florida I felt something hitting my head. I looked up and the roof about the window was sagging on my head. I stopped, moved the carrier back, pushed up on the roof and we went on our way.
We had no more problems that day, but occasionally I would be driving along and once in a while the roof would sag, and I would push it back up. We kept the car for seven years, and might still have it except The Blonde was driving it one day and the brakes went (she was driving slowly on a residential street). The brake lining had fallen and the tire rubbed a hole in it and the fluid leaked out. We got it fixed, but my good wife would have nothing more to do with it. All was not lost though as I sold it for $98.27.
Obviously, we have nostalgia regarding that 1959 Rambler, but I have never seen one since. If I did they would probably want more than $98.27 now what with inflation and nostalgia. I have always had a lots of nostalgia concerning Nash cars as my Dad loved them. He had several of them. One of them had a button on the floor that would change the radio station if you pushed it with your foot. If you only pushed it part way it could cut off the sound. The girl I was dating at the time (a blonde, but not The Blonde) and I could not agree on music. She would pick a station, I would push down half way, and say rats, that station is lost”. I would then pick another station with better music.
The blonde in the Nash and I parted ways when I went to college eighteen miles away. She met a sailor while I was studying hard during the week and married him. She said she had regrets later, but hey I did better. You know, this could end up going the wrong way, if I reminisce about other blondes so I will close and wish everyone a happy holiday season.
Barry Evans writes about Life in The Villages for Villages-News.com
