I think I am getting old and have realized I have more good memories behind me than in front of me. I think they call that nostalgic. You know . . . that happy feeling with a tinge of sadness about the past.
I went to the car show in downtown Clarksdale this Saturday and looked over the hotrods, vintage autos and those classic cars that are always so neat and clean.
Event organizers said it wasn’t their biggest but it may have been their best. They talked of car-folk that drove up from Jackson, down from Memphis and of course the regular wrench-benders from around here that proudly own those shiny rides.
A guy from Arkansas took the trophy for his red truck and you can see it on Page One of today’s paper.
But it was that Keith boy’s red Ford Mustang that caught my eye.
Mustang Man
I think just about everyone has owned a Mustang at one point in time.
Mine was a green ‘67 with a 289. I bought that car with money I had saved from throwing newspapers.
I paid $1,375.00 for it. Mr. Taylor was a used car salesman and we started at $1,700.
Daddy drove me out there to seal the deal and quietly watched his boy up against a longtime used car dealer. He didn’t say a word.
I remember proudly telling Daddy I had to get Mr. Taylor down to $1,375 because that was all I had.
I remember Daddy telling me that man got all my money and yes, I got the car.
I also remember borrowing $5 from Daddy for gas to get that Mustang home.
Mustang Mechanic
My Daddy was one of those men who could fix anything.
He was a flight engineer for the U.S. Air Force and like all career enlisted men he knew his stuff.
He had that ability to look and listen to cars and tell you what was wrong or right.
There was also a day and age when Daddy and I didn’t see eye-to-eye. I think most boys go through that with their father.
But under the hood of that Mustang was neutral ground for both of us.
Yours truly knew it all at the age of 17 and Daddy knew I didn’t, but loved his hard-headed boy just the same.
I think that is where and how I learned to take advice from others. He knew exactly how to make that Mustang run.
Mustang Music
That car had headers and honest-to-goodness glasspacks on it.
I hear these punks around here romp down on their little high tech cars and want to laugh in their face.
That Mustang was loud and powerful. I was so proud of it.
I used to drop Sara off at her house on Saturday night and she could tell if I went home or headed out on the highway by listening to that Mustang gallop down the streets of West Point.
Mustang Magic
The car show Saturday proved Clarksdale is good at a lot of different things.
Yeah, this is The Home of The Blues and always will be. But we do have much more to offer.
I don’t think locals realize how much of an arts scene this town has. I’ve lived a number of different places and Clarksdale has a lot of very talented people for a town of just 14,000 people.
I hope we can take some of that “Mustang Magic” and change some things around here.
Business is always about money and if you think you got a good deal, you did. Smile and enjoy life.
We don’t always have to agree and some folks always think they are right. Helping those who see things different says a lot about a real man.
And it’s Ok to be loud and proud, but remember people are watching and listening. Be nice or hit the highway.
If you didn’t go to the car show, I’m sorry you missed it. But don’t worry, Clarksdale will host another one this spring. I’ll see you there.
Floyd Ingram is the Editor of your Clarksdale Press Register. The tools of his trade are a pen, paper and camera and he knows how to use them. Call him at 662-627-2201 if you want to talk shop.
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