Michael Perry wrote a book called “Truck, A Love Story”. In it he talks about repairing an old truck but follows the other parts of his life in the process. The Love Story part of it is about a real love, you know, one that includes a real woman and not just a truck but the story always comes back to the truck.
I’m nowhere near the writer that Perry is but I recognize a good story when I see it and Perry is redneck enough to recognize but never acknowledge a love between man and truck.
Trucks are a unique part of manhood in the rural united states. They become a part of you and help, in some ways, to define you. Everyone loves a good truck.
If you’ve been reading here long enough you’ve read several stories about my truck or stories in which the truck played a bit part. From the way it smelled on frosty mornings going hunting with my nephew, to the raw power that pulled seventy feet of deck off of my house, to the way I use it to help friends whenever I can to, not to be profound, use it for God’s work. It’s a part of who I am that truck and I am proud of it. I wrote about it extensively in “Buy American”.
If you’ve missed my previous posts here are two videos that tell part of the story…
Like all good things though, that time in my life came to an end today. I took the beat up old thing to the dealer and traded it in. After 6 years, one deck, several trees, untold amounts of personal belongings, trash, toliets, campers and 75000 miles it was still worth a third of what I paid for it.
Today, Ms Jinkto and I walked into the dealer and announced our intention to buy a new truck. When asked what we were looking for I took the salesgirl out to my old truck and told her, “That.” She looked confused so I explained further by saying, “…with new tires.” At first she showed us several other trucks that were nice but not like mine. After a while she understood that I wasn’t joking and had to admit that they didn’t have the truck that I wanted. I nodded and asked her to find me one… so she did.
This one:
Here’s Jinksto in his Mike Rowe Ford Commercial pose:
And finally, because life is about labels… here’s the one that tells the whole story.
Before you asked if that V10 means what you think it means the answer is… yes. Both of my brothers work in the oil industry… gotta support the family.
Anybody need something hauled?
VERY nice…Time for a Trip?
Very nice.
Congrats.
cjh
Well, I can’t tell ya how envious I am. Still tying up loose ends financially, I bought a rusty, ratty ’89 Chevy Silverado last summer. When ya need a truck, nothin’ else will do…
Hauling manure, carrying the mower to get it repaired.
A shiny, black, V-10 stump-puller? Wow.
Good for you!
Very nice. I’ve owned one 4×4 Jeep and two Fords outfitted for towing, but never a V10. Don’t need ’em anymore but still can’t read stuff like this or I’ll start thinking. 🙂
So will you still pull stumps using a truck with this much “shine” still on it?
Enjoy.
Absolutely! As the rednecks say, “Shine is useless if it won’t throw mud.”
Week after next I’ll be in backwoods La seeing if I can make it into our camp. That’s really the test of a true truck… if it can make it to the camp it’s a good truck. I usually, carry a tow chain in the truck and when people ask, “is that for when you get stuck?” I respond, “No, that’s for when the guy behind me gets stuck…”