Granny's Car

Mom is and always has been a good sport.

When I was expecting her first grandchild, she and Daddy spent a lot of time thinking about and talking about what they wanted to be called by their grandchildren. I can assure you that "Granny" was not amongst the choices.  She was coming up with clever ideas like GrandBea, Gramby, or simply just Grandma.

At some point along the way, Madeline said something in conversation about "Granny."  Porter heard this and thought it was the funniest thing in the world! Porter was (and still is) easily amused. That is one of the things we love best about him. It works well for my family, as we are very much into teasing and joking, so when we have Porter around, it intensifies our affinity for such kidding around.

The car Mom drives seems to be the brunt of many jokes. I think I am the only person who willingly drives her car....maybe because it is often my only means of transportation when I am in Shelby! It is really a nice car, but we have all carried on about it so much through the years that it now bears this stigma....known simply as "Granny's Car." Just the mere mention of it can send Porter into fits of hysteria sometimes, and it always brings up a story or a memory.

One of my most recent memories of Granny's car was just a few months ago when I was visiting Shelby.  Porter and I drove Granny's car for one of our movie dates ("The Dolphin's Tale," I think).  Porter had his drivers' permit (thank goodness!) at that time, but I was the lucky driver of the car that day.
When the movie was over and we got in the car, I literally couldn't reach the gas pedal.  Mom's car has an automatic seat adjustment that moves up to a particular setting when you put the key in the ignition.  It is a great feature that allows you to easily get into the car, and then move up closer to the pedals.
Well, this particular day, the "automatic" part of this feature didn't seem to be working.  I had been having problems with it before, but had learned how to manually jiggle and wiggle to get the seat to move. 
After many attempts, I simply couldn't get the seat to budge.  There was no way I could drive home.  As I said, I literally couldn't reach the gas or brake pedals.
This is when I became very thankful that Porter is 6 feet tall and that he had his driving permit.  Otherwise, I would have been forced to call someone to come get us.  That would have been embarrassing!
As much as Porter hates driving Granny's car, he stepped up to the plate....or pedal, I should say.....and drove us safely home, since his long legs had no problem reaching the gas and the brake.
Along those same lines, many times I have had Porter turn Granny's car around in his driveway for me, so that I can get out.  It's hard to maneuver the driveway anyway, and in this monstrous car, it is nearly impossible!

Mom is very generous and offers to let people drive her car frequently.  No one seems to ever take her up on it!  I remember going to Atlanta a few years ago with Martha and Mom for the weekend.  Of course, Mom offered her car for Martha to drive.  Her car is bigger and doesn't have many miles on it (and I can see why!), so it seemed the logical choice.  I honestly believe Martha might have chosen not to go if it meant driving that car!  She hated it more than any of us.

Granny's car is the only car available to drive when any of us visit unless we rent a car at the airport.  When I do decide to rent a car, Bob teases me that it's because I don't want to drive Granny's Car!
Last summer Madeline flew from Philadelphia to visit Grandma for a week.  They had a  ball going to the movies, out to lunch, and simply just hanging out.  But, whenever Madeline wanted to go pick up Porter or go anywhere, she had to take Granny's car, as it was what was available.  Even though I wasn't there, I have heard this story more than once.  Apparently Madeline was driving the car and she and Porter went to pick up Porter's friend, Morgan.  I guess Madeline probably did look out of place driving that car, and backing out and turning around in Morgan's driveway seemed to amuse his mom tremendously.  Porter tells Madeline that Morgan's mom laughs about it whenever Porter mentions his cousin Madeline!

One time a few years ago when I was in Shelby, Sally asked me to drive up to Lake Lure for the day.  She was up there with her boys for a few days.  I decided to take her up on it as going to Lake Lure is always a treat.  It is such a beautiful place.  I borrowed Granny's car and drove to the lake.  After a lovely afternoon with Sally and her boys, a lunch of pimento cheese sandwiches, fresh cucumbers and tomatoes, fresh peaches and other wonderful delicacies that I love to enjoy when I visit NC, it was time to drive back to Shelby to spend some time with Mom.  I said my goodbyes and went to get in the car.  I tried to back out, turn around, whatever I had to do to get away from there.  I tried and tried to no avail.  In fact, I tried so hard that the car literally got stuck between two trees!  I think Sally's son, David, was about 14 or 15years old and I had to go get him to get the car out from between the trees.  Otherwise, I would have been stranded.

Granny's car has survived many speedy trips down Tickle Bee Hill.  It amazes me what a thrill that can be for a senior citizen such as myself.   After 50+ years of the speeding, bump, dip, stomach-in-your-throat thrill, the excitement is even more intense now.  There is something about being the driver with captive passengers that adds to the magic of the moment.  No wonder Daddy was always willing to take us for a ride down Tickle Bee Hill whenever we asked!  However, I don't think any car could be better or more thrilling than Granny's Car for such an adventure.  It is such a long car that it feels like the front flies up and stays suspended in air awaiting the back of the car to catch up! 
Just writing about this makes me anxious to do it again.  Maybe this time I'll get Porter to drive.

Granny's car has served us all well.  It has made many trips not only down Tickle Bee Hill, but also to Pizza Inn, Riverbend, Carolina Dairy for orangeades and lemonades, Boiling Springs, Sally's house, the airport, the Cleveland Mall, Sandy's Country Christmas, the movie theater, Wal-Mart, Charlotte, Shelby Cafe, Pleasant City Grill, the Yelton's house, Shelby City Park, Alston Bridges BBQ, Southpark, Central United Methodist Church, many friends and cousins' homes, and even to Johnson City, TN to see Joseph.  It must have been set on auto-pilot from Mom's house to the Sterling House.  Visiting her sister at 3:05 every single day was of utmost importance to Mom. 

The car has hauled luggage, Homer's plants, groceries, take-out food, donations for Goodwill and Salvation Army, a walker and a wheelchair, food for others, party supplies, shopping spree bags, gifts and hand-me-downs. It has taken family members to gatherings at holiday time, weddings, funerals, and drives around town to see the sights, look at houses and lovely lawns, and talk about old times and remembrances. 

Granny's car might be the brunt of many jokes, but the reality is:  the joke's on us.  The conversations that have taken place in that car, the laughs, the tears, the togetherness and the fun times will live on long after the car no longer runs.  And truly, memories are made of this.

Granny's Car in her carport