Aunt Gladys was actually my Mom's cousin and as close to a sister as Mom ever had. I absolutely adored her. She was by far my favorite Aunt. She was a small, pert woman who had a penchant for huge Cadillacs. The last car she owned was a 1966 Coupe De Ville, gold with a vinyl top. When Aunt Gladys passed away in 2003, my cousin, Susanna graciously gave me the car. We called her "The Gladillac" or "Gladys". This 18 1/2 foot beast took up more than her share of the garage and Pat's new car was sent to the street.
We didn't drive her much, but she was always our transportation up to the Santa Cruz Mountains to get our Christmas tree. We could fit a 9' tree in the trunk with very little hanging out the back.
Gladys was not very pretty, as her vinyl top was crumbling and paint was faded, but the engine always started right up and she ran strong.
Our intention was to restore her to her former glory, but we finally came to the conclusion that we didn't have the time or resources to do it. So, she went on Craigslist.
A guy named Jason called and was very excited. He is a freak for 66 Caddys and has a club of guys with the same passion. He plans to restore her and not use her for a parts car. I know she's not very pretty anymore, but she's not an organ donor.
So The Gladillac left us today on a flat bed trailer, heading for Fresno, where ironically, Aunt Gladys lived for many years. I said goodbye to her and cried as she left our driveway, which is kind of stupid I guess. I mean, it's only a car. But that car belonged to my beloved Aunt Gladys and I have been her guardian for the past five years. Jason said he'd keep in touch and send us updates on her rehabilitation. It's been a bittersweet day for me, seeing that car leave, but I know Aunt Gladys would be happy that The Gladillac has gone to a good home. She'll be pretty again some day.
2 comments:
Aww, man. That makes me all misty-eyed, too. It's not stupid.
I still remember when we left Reno with the Gladillac. We even went by and said good-bye to the cool young dude who'd taken such good care of Aunt Gladys and her Caddie for many years. He was so sad to hear of her passing, and sad to see the car go too, I think.
Since you were driving the Gladillac, I had to drive your Beemer, with Mom riding shotgun. Watching you sail away down I-80 with nary a care in the world, arm out the window and hair blowing in the breeze. Jeez. I commented to Mom that you are absolutely fearless, and she agreed. I'd have been petrified to drive such a monster car down a twisty two-lane freeway with nutzoid truckers all around. I was scared to death to drive your Beemer, afraid I'd run it into the guard rail. (I've gotten better, having to drive that road every day now)
I think Aunt Gladys would be happy to see her beloved car back in Fresno, of all places. How funny. I still remember it taking up the entire space in front of Mom and Dad's house.
You'd better tell Jason that if he doesn't send pictures that you can post on your blog,(and we can all enjoy) that our dear Aunt Gladys will likely come back from beyond and smack him upside his smarty-pants head.
And she would, too.
Love, Beans
Aww! I like that picture of us. You can totally tell I'm bracing to hold the tree up.
I <3 your blog!
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