[Dadhawk]

I went out to grab a quick lunch last week at the Waffle House near work. As I was leaving, a man in his early 20's was standing near my 86 with what turned out to be his Grandmother, a frail little whiff of a lady walking with a cane that was most likely in her mid to late 80's (should have asked if she was 86, but you don't ask a lady's age, particularly when she is carrying a cane). I assumed she was tolerating her grandson while he checked out my car. As I walked up this was the conversation. We'll call her Ethyl....

Ethyl: That sure is a nice little red car you have there young man. (I like her already)

Me: Thank you Ma'am.

Grandson: We should go now Grandma.

Ethyl: Yes sir, your little car brings back a lot of memories for me.

Me: How so?

Ethyl: Well, let me tell you...

We then spent the next 15 minutes or so with her telling me about her husband, and how when they met in the early 60's he was a "handsome young fella" driving a '57 Torch Red Thunderbird. They dated in that car and drove it away at their wedding. She even had a black and white picture of the two of them with the car she was kind enough to share.

She shared they owned several "little red cars" over the years besides the Thunderbird, including a mid-60's Corvette, a Mustang, a 240Z and a few others she couldn't remember what they were.

As she talked about it, you could see her straighten up, remembering her more youthful days, and the love of her life (her husband and his little red cars).

As we parted ways, and her grandson helped her up the steps, she looked back one more time at my car, the way you always hope a young lady looks back when you know she's "the one" and smiled and waved goodbye. Perhaps the twinkle in her eye meant she had seen your dear, departed husband reflected in the windshield.

If no one ever compliments my 86 again, I'll be OK with that, because it will never get any better than that moment.