STORIES
If our lives are a book, the cars we drive define the chapters.
These are stories featuring cars, trucks, and even RVs that played a role in the lives of the people who owned or drove them. Many are set in Fort Stockton, Texas and involve a cast of characters in and around the dusty southwest Texas town. A lot of the stories are shared around the table at The Grounds for Divorce, where the ‘regulars’ meet.
Pull up a chair and let Lucinda pour you a hot cuppa joe and enjoy.
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L.A. BY WAY OF MONTEREY
“Sorry for all the interviews we put you through,” the suit on the other side of the grey metal desk said. “I’m sure you can understand how critical it is for us to get a new hire like this just right. Everybody and their dog has to sign off on it.” “I understand. That’s why…
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THE VIEW FROM THE FRONT PORCH
Spring’s got to be the best season. Except for maybe fall, what with Texas football and all. Summer is pretty good, but the damn heat can be stifling. But spring is pretty special. Everything turning green, the crisp air in the morning. The smell of barbecue grills getting cranked up for the first time since…
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SUNSET ACRES ROAD-TRIPPER
Back in ’77 Studer Tuglow special ordered one just like this from Pecos GMC / International Harvester for his business. He owned the Sunset Acres Retirement Home here in Fort Stockton and figured it would be one more amenity he could offer residents. If memory serves, his was yellow and purple also – always made…
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HUCK DELMONT WORKS A MIRACLE
Back in October of ‘57, Bum Steerbridge went in for his annual physical at the behest of his Mrs., and was met with some unexpected and concerning news. It seemed that, during the prostate exam, Dr. Brown felt something suspicious and worthy of further investigation. Trying to get his mind off the situation, Bum got…
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THE MUSTANG IN THE SAFE DEPOSIT BOX
When a parent passes, especially the last one, the list of things to be handled is long, unexpected, and tortuous. When Mom passed, most of the efforts were helping Dad through the process. Sure, there were a few things to dispose of, but Pops stayed in the house they’d lived in since the year I…
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CRUSHING IT
What a day. The first full day the blog went live it received nearly 900 views. A bunch of people subscribed, and the Captain My Captain mugs were flying off the shelf. I don’t know what any of that means, for sure. It’s kinda like the time Gullwing ate a whole bowl full of Okra…
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AND WE’RE OFF . . .
“Do a blog,” they said. “It’ll be easy,” they said. “Sell some books and get in touch with the people who seem to enjoy whatever tiny, twisted talent you have tapped into on Bring a Trailer. You keep hearing the same thing over and over and after a while you think to yourself, ‘Sure. Why…
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TAKING A STAB AT SUCCESS
“I can’t believe all this,” she admitted. “It’s just surreal. Like it’s someone else.” Sandy turned towards the scenery and away from her husband, fearing if she stared too long at him she’d cry. The overlook where they’d pulled over in the new Buick provided an expansive view she hoped would put things in…
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A RED WAGON FULL OF DAD JOKES
Like others, this big ol’ Ford brings back memories of cross country (Squire) trips to see national monuments, visit relatives, and supposedly bond as a family, although that aspect wasn’t apparent at the time. Mostly it was an opportunity for Dad to try out all the new material he’d been working on since the last…
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THE THING ABOUT LUCINDA
The thing about Lucinda is that there are so many things about her. How does someone who was born and raised right here in Fort Stockton still remain so mysterious? People swear she graduated from Our Lady of Immeasurable Concern, but nobody remembers her being in their class. She’s been the waitress here at The…