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June 25, 2006

It Was Twenty Years Ago Today, Part XXX

My Malibu was dead.

No, not dead. Just terminal. I thought.

It was Wednesday, June 25, 1986. It had been a wettish spring, which meant my trusty '73 Malibu wouldn't start for love or money within eight hours of any precipitation. Which played hob with my job schedule.

This week had been the worst; I'd had to get rides to work with Rob Pendelton two straight mornings.

I figured it was time for a change.

I'd started fishing through the classifieds - and found my dream deal, a '78 Jeep CJ7 for a very nice price.

But it had a manual transmission.

I'd been driving for about seven years - but I'd never been in a straight stick before. The cars I'd learned to drive in - my dad's '73 Fury and, later, a '77 Bonneville - had been automatics.

I had tried once to drive a stick; at a radio station in Carrington, ND in 1982, I didn't have a car, and I needed to get to a remote broadcast. The secretary lent me her Chevette. I killed it 17 times getting out of the parking lot. It took me 25 minutes to drive the eight blocks of Carrington's main street to the Foster County Fairgrounds, site of the remote. I ended up pushing the 'vette into a parking spot and walking the last block through the fairgrounds.

Fortunately, one of my roommates had just bought a brand-new Toyota Celica; hot, gorgeous, and a five-on-the-floor. She offered to take me out and show me how to drive a straight stick.

Memories are dim; the salient ones:

  • Grinding gears. "Mitch, could you not do that?"
  • Killing the engine eight times in one block, trying to get out of first gear.
  • Roommate looking at me, face green with impending illness, revulsion ill-concealed in her face.
She drove back to the house.

Undeterred, I called the owner. I needed a car, dagnabbit.

Posted by Mitch at June 25, 2006 11:08 AM | TrackBack
Comments

Empty your phone message containers...I have been trying to call you on both phones since thursday..don't call me today though got it?
I need to know if and when you are coming to Minot
Love
Mom

Posted by: your mother at June 25, 2006 01:22 PM

Mom,

I'll be coming up there, if all goes well, on Sunday, July 2.

Sort of like I said the last time I called...

Posted by: Mitch at June 25, 2006 05:32 PM

Mitch,

You and your mom just put a nice smile on my face...after not having such a smiley day. I would have never guessed that reading Shot In The Dark would also remind me that family, especially mothers, should always put a smile on ones face.

Thank's

Your Friend (just doesn't have the same ring to it though)

Posted by: Chris at June 25, 2006 10:19 PM
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