A short informative story about me, “Eric S Dale,†brought up in Houston, TX until age 17 then I followed my family to other states including OK, MO, CA, and UT. In addition, many short stays in other locations. Driving my 1964 Ford unibody I survived a 2000 mile tour at age 18.
My father waiting in UT for me gave last instruction over the phone, “Son you will always remember this.†Leaving my Dallas home I would pass through St George, UT and almost freeze to death going up a huge mountain the truck’s temperature gauge sunk to “C†and died. It was a massive snow blizzard and I’m from Houston where it doesn't snow and it’s flat. I was ill prepared to say the least. But I made it.
Attempting to drive to Van Nuys where my uncle lived after staying in Salt Lake with my dad. The old truck had drum brakes all the way around and a leaky brake cylinder. FYI this was no fun during rush-hour on Interstate 5 in LA. But I made it.
Now, trying to get home driving through the MOAB with a tick in the motor as the pavement flashed passed through the floorboard. Also, there really is a sign indicating, “Last gas for 99 Miles.†But I made it.
In Tucumcari, NM I spun a rod bearing and it looked bad until this genius Indian mechanic rigged the motor. He cut the bad rod out of the old 300 and I drove the truck to my uncle Lee in Oklahoma on five cylinders.
Man I love life, the moral to my story, “Don't trip on a tick in your motor!†There’s always a delivering SWITCH waiting for us and you never know until the ONE is turned into a ZERO.
-Eric S Dale-