Sometimes I forget other people are around, and while we are going about our business, somebody is watching us. I paused to photograph this hood ornament on a Mack truck hauling away dirt from the construction site over at Catherine (demolition of the house that had stood there was captured here in July).
The company was founded in Brooklyn in 1900 by brothers Augustus, William and John Mack. At first they built buses. In 1932, the company's chief engineer, A.F. Masury, carved the iconic hood ornament out of a bar a of soap, and patented it.
I took a couple shots, and noticed the backhoe operator was not only there, but looking at me, then getting out of his cab. I could have scooted away, but didn't want to further alarm the man — people associate taking photos with irked individuals trying to get others in trouble. Maybe he felt guilty for working before 7 a.m.
I explained, several times, that I was just photographing the hood ornament. But the concept was not being conveyed. There might have been a language issue. So I showed him the photo I had just taken, and he seemed to relax. I complimented his truck.
"Very strong," he said. "I like to load the truck and get out."
That seemed to be my exit line, and I left. The next day, however, just as Kitty and I were passing, he was pulling out in his Mack truck. I waved, as if we were old friends.
I explained, several times, that I was just photographing the hood ornament. But the concept was not being conveyed. There might have been a language issue. So I showed him the photo I had just taken, and he seemed to relax. I complimented his truck.
"Very strong," he said. "I like to load the truck and get out."
That seemed to be my exit line, and I left. The next day, however, just as Kitty and I were passing, he was pulling out in his Mack truck. I waved, as if we were old friends.
you have a good life
ReplyDeleteYour noticing of the little and big things enriches us all
ReplyDeletein a time when fear can escalate so quickly, its comforting to know friendliness can blossom as well.
ReplyDeleteLovely. Making connections.
ReplyDeleteSo off topic, but if you get a chance, I'd be interested in your take. Just finished watching PBS show about Nixon. And at first I thought, so nothing is new here. He was full of insecurities, and had his hit list of people who he felt threatened him, wouldn't allow certain journalists at his press conferences. But by the end, at a meeting about the cover up, his men saw him break down in tears, and his farewell speech was kind of touching, talking about reading a book by Teddy Roosevelt his last night at the White House. Do you think he had some redeeming qualities? Or does it just seem so as compared to Trump? Who I can't imagine crying or reading
ReplyDeleteI loathed Nixon, when he was in office. But I do admit that time has been kind to him, and he's Cincinnatus the Lawgiver compared to Trump. Though Hunter S. Thompson had a line about Nixon that could serve as Trump's epitath: "He was a swine of a man and a jabbering dupe of a president."
DeleteAfter the last ten years, I actually find myself missing 37, 40, and 43. Yes, even Nixon and Reagan...both of whom i truly despised. Nixon did a few positive things, but Reagan was the worst of the Three Stooges. Many of the issues and troubles that plague us today began back in the Eighties, on Reagan's watch.
DeleteNixon helped open china.
DeleteAnd I thank you for your response and also for inspiring me to seek out Cincinnatus the Lawgiver! I see where you were going with the comparison. I guess another Trump superpower is how good he makes some other people look who we thought were unredeemable.
DeleteI’ve seen videos on the TV show Neighborhood Wars of workers, usually black or Hispanic, being confronted and harassed by homeowners in nice neighborhoods, for simply doing a job they were contracted to do. Yelling at them for where they are parked, accusing them of breaking some HOA rule, threatening to call the police etc. people can be so crazy. I don’t blame the guy for being a little defensive.
ReplyDeleteI always hated Tricky Dick, he was a real low life when he campaigned for the House & Senate in California. After losing to JFK in 1960, he tried for governor of the state but wrecked himself, partly due to his own atrocious personality & the pranks of Dick Tuck.
ReplyDeleteBut after he resigned, I learned he wanted a national health insurance plan for all of us. Some of that was due to his childhood & the rest was to show up the Democrats who had been unable to get that passed since FDR & still can't get that passed because of the massive bribes & lying ad campaigns from the corrupt health insurance industry.
He also got the EPA created, then appointed a genuinely talented administrator, Bill Ruckelshaus to run it.
Now the demented, deranged, fascist traitor is bent on destroying the EPA, appointing an incompetent, worthless political hack lackey to ruin it, all because he doesn't believe in climate change, something anyone with even a tenth of a brain can easily see is happening, hates windmills because he claims they ruined the vistas from his Scottish golf course, thinks they kill whales, which is impossible & also hates electric cars & solar panel, all of which are non-polluting & will help delay climate change & the huge increases in CO2, which is causing increased temperatures everywhere.
Obviously he must really hate his own grandchildren, as that's the world they will be living in, hot & no more glaciers & rising sea levels to flood every coastal city on the planet!
The thing is clark st. Everyone here already knows that and saying it over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again doesn't change anything.
DeleteMake the change you seek.
Venting and ranting serve a purpose they make you feel better but accomplish nothing.
I want you to stand up get out of your chair and go over to the window and I want you to yell as loud as you can that you're as mad as hell and you're not going to take it anymore everyone get up get out of your chair go over to the window and yell I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore
It's the little things. Hood ornaments are one of the things I miss about old cars.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the photo atop the blog show up yesterday, I wondered what the focus of today's post would be, but I'd have guessed for quite a while before I'd have chosen the unobtrusive, yet charming hood ornament. Swell!
ReplyDelete"When I was growing up, a Mack truck was a synecdoche for all trucks — being flattened by an unexpected event was 'being hit by a Mack truck.'" I can certainly second this recollection -- that's still what I think of on the relatively rare occasions I notice a Mack truck these days.
Thats a beautiful truck; fenders, grille, visor and the little dog leading the way.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about driving a bucket truck was the reactions from kids, mostly boys, in family cars. Eyes widened, pointing, waving. Just toot the horn to make their day!
My grandson is just over three years old, and he loves trucks of all kinds from pickups to semis. He also is fascinated by excavators. And I agree with Terry above, some truck designs are works of art.
ReplyDelete