Saturday, April 20, 2013

Donk's Big Day

'94 Toyota still shiny red, mostly
Today was his birthday.  He turned (over) 100,000.  It happened up on the hill where Scholl's Ferry Road meets Oregon Highway 26.  Sylvan it's called. Donk, the little red pickup truck that mostly just sits in our driveway, partied  by driving with me out to the country to fetch a load of composted horse poo for my yard. Right after the signal and on the Highway 26 ramp, the last 9 disappeared.

Filled to level with heavy compost and hanging low
Donk has had experiences beyond my imagination. He was our daughter's main transportation through high school and college. How many of her friends learned to drive a stick-shift at Donk's expense we don't even want to know.  But he's survived thanks to several rather expensive overhauls to the engine and general working parts.  And, yes, twice rear-ending another car , each time totaling the sweet thing are part of his history as well.

As we drove through the spring showers to where fields were green, houses few, and horses romp, I thought of that line by Indian Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, "It's not the years, it's the miles."

10 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for your prayers. They are greatly appreciated!
    Hugs,
    Julie

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  2. Yea, Donk. You're the man. Er, truck.

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    1. All our vehicles have names. Bet yours do, too!

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  3. My kids had a toyota pickup that had many tales to tell that I dare not hear. It has moved on to other folks but still alive and kickin'. Loved this post.

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    1. Been keeping my eye on the odometer for some time waiting this celebratory day. Friends, these vehicles are, partly because they don't tell. Happy to have you drop by.

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  4. Good on ya, Donk! Every time I drive in snow, I remember Aimee's maiden snow voyage.

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    1. There are probably plenty of stories I don't want to hear. Right?

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  5. Each car truly has a lot of stories of fun and tragedy. Glad to see Donk is still useful to the family. If cars actually have a life, it's probably what they would always be wishing for – to continually serve you. Very much like dogs. :) This is why cars seem like part of the family too, I believe. Arlyne@Spartan Toyota & Scion

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    1. Thanks, Arlyne and Spartan Toyota, for stopping by. If I come up with any really dandy Toyota stories, I'll pass them on.

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