This old Pontiac reminded me of other cars I've been in, at
other times. When I was small my dad would set me on his lap and let me
steer the chrome and knob laden vehicle down the gravel drive to my
grandparents' home.
Sitting in the backseat of cars like
these, no seat belts, balancing comic books and small icy cold bottles
of Coke with salted peanuts dumped inside, my sister and I were carted
between Rock Hill and Greenville, SC. The radio would provide fodder for
our imaginations as the secret lives of grownups, sometimes tawdry and
depressing, Please Release Me Rambling Rose, and sometimes joyous, Let's
Do The Twist, shaped our psyches through those lyrics, beats, and
melodies. So much of life occurred riding atop a chassis speeding down
highways, country roads, and city streets.
In a few short years drastic style changes would be
upon us. Those satisfying ivory colored bakelite push knobs, which we
were allowed to "mash" for our parents when allowed to ride up front,
would be no more. The sticky hot marbelized upholstery would be replaced
with scratchy cloth, which would leave its imprint on the cheeks arms,
and legs of napping children. Thankfully, the vent windows would still
be included which allowed fresh air to be angled back and across the
car, a heaven sent feature for passengers prone to car sickness. I'd
like to see those make a comeback.
In the US we spend a lot of time in cars
compared with the rest of the world. Someday when I have the leisure,
I'd like to find a good coffee table book with loads of photos of car
interiors from over the years. I apologize for the quality of today's
photos. There was no way to reduce the glare in these pictures which I
hurriedly took not knowing how long the owners would be away from their
vehicle. It was a satisfying peek into the past.
May your memories be pleasant and your travels safe during the week ahead.
~Dorothy Dolores
No comments:
Post a Comment