My Daddy’s Old Desoto and My Grandpa’s Old John Deere
Words By: Fee
Photo Magic: Frank Kook
He stopped and rolled a cigarette
Underneath a sky of thunder-gray
Struck a wooden match on his overalls
Looked like he had something to say
He put a big hand on my shoulder
Looked down at me with a smile
When he spoke I strained to listen
Because small talk was not his style
He said: "Son take a good look
It’s a memory someday you’ll revere,
Of your Daddy’s and his old Desoto
And your Grandpa’s old John Deere
The sun began to set and hand in hand
We walked back to the car to head back home
Just a simple father and son memory
I could call on wherever I did roam…
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You reminded me of when I was driving my grandfather's McCormick 1020. The one with steel wheels. A rod was knocking loudly and every time it did, black smoke of oil burning spewed out of the smokestack. I told my uncle who was running our haying operation about it, but he said not to worry he would add oil. Halfway through the day it suddenly began banging very loud and a rod came right through the cylinder wall, and being the long life of that old tractor.
By 1957 DeSoto was a marvel of "forward look" engineering. That hemi took me far into versions of the identical car. It was powerful and efficient giving me 20 miles per gallon when a gallon cost $0.25. Those were the days.
Ron
Regis.🍁