#38 A Chevy saved my Life...
...currently in production...
But, just so you know, it is true. A Chevy did save my life.
And, although I'm not quite ready to reveal how a Chevy saved my life, I will tell you why
I love the Chevy...
The truth is...you can beat a Chevy to death and it still keeps running.
***
Having three children, in three years, all before you are twenty-one, means you have
made choices that will 'veer' your life in a different path. Do I regret that?
Of course not! I have three wonderful kids and six grandchildren!
But...being young and ignorant meant I worked a lot of hours and usually multiple
jobs. It also meant I bought a lot of 'beater' type cars. To me, having even a junk car was a treasure. There were a lot of times, especially in the early years, where I had to
walk miles each day to get to a job. Anytime that I could get a cheap car I was happy.
And, very grateful...
Through the years, I had a lot of 'end of the road' cars in a variety of makes and models. I would fix what I could, and drive them til they reached the point that I couldn't
afford to fix them or the engine would finally blow, and I would move on.
Over time, it became apparent that on certain makes, you could count
on certain parts to fail. One make might always have the
master cylinder failing, or the starter, or the alternator...
Anyone who is young, has children and lives paycheck to paycheck,
knows exactly what I'm talking about...
*******
I even remember one car not having reverse. If I wasn't lucky enough to park
in a position that I could just put it in first and go...Well, then that
meant that, at the end of the day, in front of all of the other employees,
I would have to put my car in neutral, get out, push it backwards and then...
get back into my car and drive off. Talk about learning to hold your head
high...as you're completely mortified and embarassed...
(Life lesson, life lesson, life lesson...)
***
With the Chevy it was different...They stood the test of time.
Sure, they had the normal wear and tear, but overall they were the best.
When times are tough and when...no matter how hard you work,
you don't seem to have enough money to feed your children and pay your bills,
the last thing you think about is 'maintenance' on your car.
(Well...that's not true. You do think about it, but there is nothing you can do about it
other then to try to work harder.)
****
One thing that I learned thru the years was that no matter how much abuse I unintentionally heaped on a Chevy...they seemed to always come thru for me...
That meant a lot to me.
***
Cut to the present day in early 2008...I needed a truck for my
brick and mortar store, Love That Glass in Park Hills, Missouri, so that I could do 'glass runs'. I knew instantly what
I wanted. What I had always dreamed of...
"A Chevy Silverado."
I am now the proud owner of a beautiful white Chevy Silverado.
I love my truck.
Naturally, one day when a severe thunderstorm came rumbling in,
complete with half inch size hail, I went
running out of my store and threw my body over the hood of my
Chevy to protect it...
***
December, 2008
Fact is...hard times appear to be here for a little while.
That's okay. We're Americans. We are strong, and we are resilient.
Having spent quite a few years dealing with some tough times, I can tell you...
You will survive and you will become stronger.
It will be a quiet strength.
To survive, you must learn to take pleasure in the smallest of things.
A breathtaking sunset, a child's smile, a beautiful flower, the warmth of the sun on your face.
And, when you make it thru whatever troubling times you happen to be going thru,
you will truly appreciate when life is good again.
It is the bad times that make us cherish and savor the good times.
P.S. And, it sure doesn't hurt if you view your circumstances as a 'life lesson' either!
My granddaughter Kara Marie...
My oldest grandson Isaac...
My Chevy ad campaign idea...
