Running Boards

Miss them. Of course, cars are much lower to the ground now, so we really don’t need the boards that ran the length of the passenger compartment, but at least you could stand on them if there were no cops around. Now that roads are available everywhere, and paved at that, you don’t need cars high enough to clear rocks and high mud ridges.

Rumble seats. Never been in one, and not likely now what with all the safety features designed to keep you safe and alive. Seen photos and drawings of them and they looked fun. I think of them now and they seem dangerous.

Windshield wipers that stopped when you went uphill. Anybody reading this remember them? When you accelerated, especially on hills, the wipers would stop. To get a clear view, you’d let off on the gas for a moment to get a single swipe across the glass, then you’d hit it again so you wouldn’t stop. When it got to the point where you couldn’t see again, you’d do the same routine.

Starting a pickup. Right toe on the starter button, right heel on the gas pedal; left toe on the clutch, left heel on the brake. Kick the starter, pump the gas, let go of the clutch and brake, in that order if you are on a hill, and start moving. It was an art, the real test of a new driver. Do that and you should automatically get a license.

Everybody has a story.
Edward Urbanski died. He was an avid traveler who visited all 50 states and recently achieved his goal of standing atop the highest point of 25 of them.