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February 27, 2003Reflections*Dorothy TayloryytVvK',' » Ixv.fr■X'.’XvI'.v ■.wmm.The Post-RegisterOne thing for certain, we’ve come a long way in the automobile industry* Time was when folks didn’t have one of those contraptions for their use, and the horse and buggy were very popular.All my grandparents had to do their courting in a wagon that was pulled by horses or the ever famous buggy.My parents were privileged to have one of those early automobiles. Pictures tell tales and the open air convertibles were around even then. Even in their courting days my Dad rode just a plain oF horse the few miles from his house to Moms. Her brother, Ted Norman, was his excuse to be around her house. He and my Uncle Tfed did some horsing around in those days but Dad always had an eye out for my beautiful Mom.The early automobiles were available through friends who were eager to show off their wares.My parents were too young toexperience some of those early dirt roads when automobiles would become stuck after a rain. That’s where the expression, “get a horse” derived from. By the time my parents were teens and seeing each other for real, they were 21 before they married. Dad was the general caretaker of the automobiles and his very first car was a used one. He learned how to use the crank and how to heat the oil a bit before he started the engine on very cold days. Supposedly, antifreeze came along after his first experiences with heating the engine.The earliest car in my memory -was the 36 Chevy. I know that it became a part of my family and it was the auto that I drove when I was very young.It was easy as long as the road was even and there weren’t cars coming from the opposite direction. It was easy for Mom to head to town for some needed item and allow one of her children to drive to the city limits. Then, Mom would take over.Perhaps I’ve admitted that I was already about 17 when we decided it was time to secure a driver’s license. The written test was easy and I passed with flying colors.However, the actual driving test was more difficult. You see, I wasn’texpecting a handsome dude in a patrol uniform to get into my ol’ car and look at me. He glared at me with those brown eyes and my heart took a flip as I timidly glared back. He sort of half grinned and asked if I was ready. What else could I do but be ready, although I’d certainly wished I could be any place but where I was. The driving was easier than I thought, the parallel parking was a whiz, and I began to get back my self-confidence. We approached the starting place and I stopped as instructed. He very seriously looked over at me as he reported, “you failed.” What? His understanding was showing as he indicated that I didn’t give one hand signal. Oh well...do it again. And no, I didn’t failjust to have the handsome one sit by• . % • »my side again. WTiat’s more I don’t recall who it was who finally agreed to the test results but he didn’t impress me, else I would remember.One of the better ideas that has come along with the growth of the automobile are the turning signal lights. At one time the arms extended out the window to make the expected signal in rain and cold.Prov. 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issue of life.”
Newspaper Details
Lockhart Post Register
Lockhart, Texas, US
Thu, Feb 27, 2003
Page 7
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NC, USA 19 Feb 2022
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