THE OBSERVATION BOOTH
OP / ED & PHOTO CREDITS ANDREA DIALECT
Fifty-Three
It was a usual day. A beautiful day, as I told me so once again. I had actually found a park, a good park, for that favorite antiquated yellow school bus of mine. I mean theirs. I mean, you get the pic. I was minding my business, as I always do sometimes, when I spotted him. I mean them.
Now, instead of staying on that path, walking down that street to the dollar store, I’d be cutting through AutoZone’s parking lot. ’Cause that’s where he was, being all attentive and all, rubbing his baby on all sides. It was a sight to see, if I may say so myself. And there I was again, fumbling for my phone in my oversized shopping bag turned pocketbook, as I would be fumbling for the cash at that dollar store.
Perhaps someday I’ll learn to keep it in hand, just in case I come across the ultimate pic, as I often do. Let’s just blame my mindless thinking on that beautiful day. But truth be told, I got the shots and I got the goods.
He said, “When a car is twenty years old in New Jersey, you don’t have to get it inspected. She’s 53. She’s a ’73 Ford LTD. Bought her new from a Ford dealer in Montclair, but she’s been customized. The tires didn’t come like that. I customized it. I put some extra stuff on myself. The windows up top, I put that on, and the kit on the back, and the grille up front, I had that put on. It has a different motor now from when I bought it.
“It’s been 53 years, and ain’t no motor gonna last that long, but I’ve been blessed, totally blessed. The good Lord done blessed me to keep a car in New Jersey for 53 years.”
Let’s just say that all that nostalgia was a sight to see. Crossin’ Paths in our Hood usually gives a nosey woman like me plenty. Enjoy!
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