Bob Thomas Writes

I miss my old truck. I sold her to someone unknown a few years ago and I have often feared that she has been turned into something less than a Lady of Leisure. She didn’t really work too hard, just hauled me from place to place most of the time, with periodic small loads of trash to the dump. I really feel like I should tell the new owner some of facts about her, just so he would show her the respect she deserves, but I don’t know who he is, so, maybe this letter will suffice.

Dear Sir or Madam,
This truck is a 1979 Chevrolet. She had been gently used when she was purchased in 1984. She has hauled friends, loved ones, pets, bricks, kilns, firewood, lumber, dirt, sand, clay, glazes, pottery, store fixtures & displays, furniture, clothing, luggage, Christmas gifts, and a multitude of other stuff.
She has also pulled 10,000 lb. Boats, 34 foot trailers, and stumps out of the ground!
Nothing unusual for a Southern truck.

She has been filled with laughter, tears and quiet thoughts. She has been a participant in divorces, deaths, births, marriages and vacations. She has been all over N.C., S.C., and part of VA. She’s been as far north as Chicago and Michigan, and as far south as Key West. She’s been driven hard and fast and nice and slow. She cruises just fine at 65m.p.h. But she has seen 100m.p.h. once or twice. She gets real nervous at 100 mph though! I wouldn’t suggest that you try to get anything over 75mph out of her now…anymore than I would suggest that you get your grandmother to run the hundred yard dash! She might be able to do it, but, she sure will feel bad later!

She is not “just” a truck! She has been a part of my life and the lives of many others. Treat her with respect…she’s old. But, she has the heart of a lion! She will get you to where you’re going. She will ask only that you care for her with a little reasonable respect. She needs oil and water on occasion and an infrequent washing. A new tire or two would be nice every once in a while. Her heart, the engine, is as strong as you could want. It was rebuilt by the Petty Garage a few years back! Yep, the “Richard Petty” Garage! Good Ol’ King Richard’s boys gave her a heart transplant and she’s been kind of ‘prissy’ since then. Sometimes spinning her wheels and leaping away from a stop light just to show off!
She will make your life better. You should make her life a little better too.

If you miss-treat her she’ll get even with you! Usually when you least expect it! She’ll do things like turn your electricity off to tell you that she needs a new alternator…or squirt hot water on your feet to tell you that she wants a new heater hose!…or she’ll shake your teeth loose when she needs her tires balanced! Listen to her, she knows when she’s sick and she’ll tell you!

This truck is a tough lady – don’t do her wrong! Be kind to her. . . And she’ll make your life easier & fun.

Her name is “Ellen”. . . She’s not really named after anyone. My wife gave up her middle name when we got married, so I gave it to the truck since she needed one. . . “Ellen”. Kinda nice ain’t it?

Now, if you think I’m Crazy, just wait till “Ellen” leaves you stranded on a back road one night!
Then you’ll know that you’re just “another load” in her life, and not in charge of anything!

Good luck! And have fun!
The previous passenger/owner/load……….