Where the hell did everybody go? (A recollection)

Now, I don't know if I have mentioned this, but it was my Dad's practice to buy the oldest kid, still in school, a car, so he could drive the rest of us to Catholic school in New Baltimore.

However, I beat him to the punch, using my truck-farm earning to buy a 1953 Ford for $50, from my neighbor, Chuck, across the street. Unfortunately, when I pulled in the driveway (going a bit too fast) and then slammed on the brakes, I learned that the brake line had been "fixed" by wrapping the leaks with electrician's tape. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I hit the edge of the cement block garage. This did stop the car. But, it resulted in the engine breaking off its mounts and the fan chewing through the radiator. And, the resultant crack in the cement blocks did not please my father. So, this car went over to the side of the farm...

Now, before I go any further, please remember this was the mid-sixties. So, we are not talking about classic cars (although they would be, now). It would be like, now, if you bought a 1990 Honda Civic.

So, my Dad bought a 1953 Hudson Super-Jet for me. I think it was up on blocks and from his employer. I loved that car!

But one night, returning from a date with Fran, I was driving down Gratiot to 24 Mile Road. Back in those days, this was just a two lane road (I'm not sure what it is today) with a 65 MPH speed limit. I had stopped at the gas station just outside of New haven and added some oil (I was kinda barred from the gas station in town, based on an ugly incident involving a confrontation and a resulting firearm incident we won't go into now... Okay, I will admit I brought the 22 rifle into it, but I was a teenager and PISSED).

Anyway, so I had just pulled out into the passing lane with a car in front of me and some cars oncoming when the hood of the Hudson (that I had apparently not closed completely) opened, and smashed back, completely covering the windshield! I couldn't see shit! But, I knew there were cars to my right and on-coming cars in my passing lane!!!

What to do? I couldn't see shit!!!

I slid all the way left and onto the side of the road. I struggled to stop the car while I heard all these weird thumps. When I finally got it stopped, I got out and looked behind me. There was probably 30 mailboxes cut off at my bumper height (thank God for real bumpers, back then).

I pulled on the hood with all my might and then jumped on it to get to back to shape. I proceeded home and then next day, took the hood off in my friend Leon's driveway.