All my life I have had few regrets. There are plenty of things I certainly wouldnt do again, but I dont regret much. One thing however, has nagged at me most of my adult life and thats the fact that my Maternal Grandparents were alive and I really didnt know them. Our lives had gone different directions since they moved from my hometown in the 1978 for El Paso, Texas and I landed on the West Coast out of High School. Most people in their forties cant say they have living Grandparents and it was just eating at me that one day I would get the call and not really knowing them anymore. Compounding this was the fact that my 10 year old daughter had yet to meet her Great Grandparents. Travesty, I thought. Well amazingly things change. Grandma and Grandpa had relocated from El Paso to Austin several years ago to be closer to my Aunt. To say they are alive and well would be an overstatement. Olga, my Grandma, has suffered a series of strokes & heart attacks and with the ***ociated ailments, is pretty much bed bound. Grandpa, who goes by Rudy, lives the similar lifestyle. Not that his health suffers, but because he refuses to leave the side of the woman he has been with for nearly 70 years, so he doesnt (wont) get out much. Well when I was transferred by my employer to Austin early this year, making up for lost time with my Grandparents was right up there with Lone Star Beer and BBQ. I have had the chance to really start getting to know them again. My daughter is very tolerant of the visits and has gotten used to repeating the same stories due to Grandpas forgetfulness. About a month ago, we were visiting and Grandpa brought out some photo albums. A**** the typical wedding and Christmas Eve dinner shots from by-gone years, Grandpa pulls out a picture of handsome young fellow standing in front of 40s sedan. You see that? he says. That was very first NEW car, a 1941 Plymouth. With a brief pause he adds I loved that car, it was the best. You know? I owned nothing but Chryslers, Dodges, and Plymouth for the rest of my life. He lit up like neon sign and went on and on about how swell a Dodge is for the rest of the visit. Driving home I get an idea and where do I turn, but to the good old HAMB. And I start the following thread. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118167 Now I know my odds are slim, but I follow the advice offered by both GLENDALE and SKATTRUGGLES and I find my self posting a similar request on P15-D24 Early Plymouth site. The first couple responses are polite with a good luck undertone. Seems even to the early Plymouth fan, my request is a little too specific and doesnt look good. About an hour later I get an email. Seems there is car like Grandpas in Killeen, Texas (about 70 miles Northwest) and the fellow that owns it, Tony, is more than happy to go in on the surprise. Well today we pulled it off and took an 86 year old man back in time 65 years even if just for a handful of minutes . Take a look Tony B's 1941 Plymouth Two-Door Sedan; The Beast Tony B meet Rudy B Grandpa sure misses the stylings of yesterday's cars... "Old Plymouths are SWELL" says Grandpa. Grandpa thinks a Plymouth Six is almost as pretty as Olga and it almosts sounds as good too! There she is with Grandpa's NEW 41 back in the day Grandpa was 22 when he bough his first new car Checking out ATX in style... Outta' the way, it's my turn... I love my Grandpa My co-conspirator, my lovely Aunt Paula.
Very cool story, I'm sure your Grandpa was thrilled....Tony B is a very cool car guy, very generous!!
Fantastic story!! I was following the other thread and I'm glad to see you got to make a ride for your Granpa a reality. Good things will surely come of this. I had a similar situation when I got the take my '42 GMC to my ex-wife's Grandfather's house to show him. He couldn't get in the cab due to his bad hips, but the smile on his face made it worth it. The truck reminded him of the ones he drove in the Navy as an aircraft mechanic. Great pictures and an even better story. You've made ME smile. Thanks!!
Man you nearly had me going for the kleenex, beautiful story.Good luck to you and Grandfather Cheers Dago
Didn't do anything you shouldn't for family. It was as much a blast for Tony and I as it was for Grandpa.
I'm glad I could help point you in the right direction. And I think your grandpa is lying to you 86 come on? More like 56.
Yeah, You know how to make a grown man cry.... Hopefully when I'm pushing 90 someone will offer me a ride in a 56 Dodge..... Great story!!! Nice work!!!!
Hey, Thanx for sharing! That is one of the coolest things that I have seen done in years!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Man, I also had lost touch with my Maternal Grandparents back in like 67 but hooked up again them in 79, I spent the next few years getting into their biz & totally dug their past lives. Grandpa was a way cool car guy- He would have made a perfect HAMBer, he did everything himself. Way glad to see this. Just tell your daughter that all of those stories will one day be hers to tell her grandchildren.
Great story there my friend..I'm in the final stages of restoring my grandfathers old car, 1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer. And with a big help from a fellow H.A.M.B Member, Gasheat from Dallas, Texas and with him was able to speed my project up so soon I'll be able to get My Grandf' and Grandm' into the first new car he bought while in the Navy. 25 yrs at that. Well great story and looks like he really enjoyed himself as I'm sure mine will. He doesn't know I have the car, it sat at the farm in Oklahoma for 32 yrs. Well peace to all. Tony B's 1941 Plymouth Two-Door Sedan; The Beast Tony B meet Rudy B Grandpa sure misses the stylings of yesterday's cars... "Old Plymouths are SWELL" says Grandpa. Grandpa thinks a Plymouth Six is almost as pretty as Olga and it almosts sounds as good too! There she is with Grandpa's NEW 41 back in the day Grandpa was 22 when he bough his first new car Checking out ATX in style... Outta' the way, it's my turn... I love my Grandpa My co-conspirator, my lovely Aunt Paula. [/quote]
Very cool man, wish my grandpa was still around to some of the old **** I ressurected, he would get a kick out of it, nice....................
Thanks for all the kind words, as much as we learn from the old timers, we gotta' remember to give it back too....
Gregg, I just hung up the phone with you and I went into the house to look this thread up. I have to tell you that this is simply amazing. I think that the gift you gave your Grandpa is one that is one of those things that just cuts right to the heart. In a simple act you have created something that has improved not only your Grandpa's life, but your own through a simple action. I am sorry to get a bit sappy here, but; this is the way that people are supposed to treat each other. Wow. Needless to say I did "get a kick" out of this post. Take it easy. I will for sure be out to visit for DAC. Otto
Alright, I'll admit it. I'm balling like a baby over here! My wife is grinning and looking over my shoulder and ribbing me about being a big cry baby. I missed knowing all of my grandparents, except one. She, to this day, was one of the most influential people in my life. Thank you for letting me know a Grandfather through you. God Bless you and your '41 driving volunteer.
geeman51, You just made my night. I too, have got a lump in my throat and am getting a little misty. One day when I was 13 I was at my maternal grandparent's place. I didn't REALLY know my grandpa that well. Out of the blue he says we NEED to go fishing. There was a small lake in the woods a couple miles from their farm, so we dug some worms, grabbed the cane poles and headed out. We walked through about a gazillion mosquitos to get there but it was definitely worth it. We spent the whole day fishing, just me and him. We didn't talk too much but just spent some quality time together. It is one of my best memories of chilhood and certainly somehting I will NEVER forget. You are a lucky man to have the opportunity to still spend time with your grandpa. You are also a good man to make a day so special for him. I've got to go get a kleenex now. Later dude, Thor
Awesome story man, youre so lucky to have known your Grandad mine is in the old country and Ive only really spent quality time with him twice.....Hes 100 now and he lost Grandma last year at 99. Last time I saw him I spent as much time as I could with him not knowing if/when Id ever see him again and the stories he would tell me about what life was like in a different time...PRICELESS. God bless ya for doin that for your Gramps.....surely it will come back to you one day in spades man. Rat
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