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I feel I can be honest with you: high school no longer seems like just two weeks ago. The day I started at Colonel Richardson High School, Ronald Reagan was living at the White House. Now, back then I found I enjoyed inside jokes and references among friends. I was also a burgeoning “car guy.” It was not politically correct, but I developed code names for a pair of cute girls that I would use with one of my pals.
A different sort of example? To this day, I have not once tasted a beer, let alone any sort of liquor. Likewise, I’ve never actually seen anyone partake of any illicit drug. One day, way back then, one of my buddies mentioned that a mutual friend was smoking the “Devil’s Cabbage.” I have trouble now remembering whether that guy drove a Buick or an Oldsmobile, but I remember the color quite well. For many years afterward, anytime I would discuss marijuana use with my buddy we would refer to the act as “driving the green car!”
In 1997 I decided it was time for a newer truck, so I went shopping. The Chevrolet dealer, down in Snow Hill, had a pair of Cheyenne’s that I really liked except I felt the salesman was playing games with the price. I test drove a new Dodge in Denton but it just didn’t do anything for me. I went over to Neviaser in Easton and examined a pair of one year old Dakotas. One was just $500 more but had more features and less mileage.
Oh, did I tell you? Those Chevy pickups: both green. That truck in Denton? Green. The better equipped model in Easton, likewise.
I drove home from Neviaser in the white one.
Fast forward to the Great Recession, and a particularly tough time for the “once mighty” Gadow’s Body Shop. I glanced at my Nagel’s Hardware calendar hanging on the wall and noted in horror that my schedule for the next week was empty. I would have no choice but to lay off the help. Within an hour, however, a friend of mine called; he really wanted his old truck painted. Might I take his old Cadillac in trade? I Googled the value of that tired Caddy. They matched to a T. I made the deal.
I couldn’t keep that car long, as I needed the money. Sometimes I wish I could have kept the old machine. Just one thing, though: that color. Yep.
And now, here we are in 2026. I own a couple ancient automobiles, both in shades of blue. I have been halfheartedly trying to sell at least one and the call came last week from a young man, asking if I might take something in trade. Others have offered things I most definitely don’t want (a boat, a Mazda Miata, a Benz that was new when I was back in school giving nicknames to girls.) But this? This brought intrigue. “The doc says I still can’t drive, but if you can bring it by, sure, I’ll take a closer look.” In the photos, on my phone, not too bad!
And that night, on my laptop? I could make it out much better. Oh, yes, a fine shade of Emerald.
From some principals I shall never retreat. You will not see me drinking anything more stout than a Cock & Bull Ginger Beer (stuff does pack a kick!) Never will I touch cannabis, legal or not. Might I someday putter around in a green ‘37 Buick? Only time will tell on that one!
