recovering notes from the deep, part 25

repairing washing machines

dryers and refrigerators

my dad always seemed to have an old panel truck

as the family vehicle

until at least the early 60s when

something in the air or on the

burgeoning interstate highway system

brought us to a '55 ford v8 with a 39 dollar

earl scheib turquoise paint job

the rust got covered and the floorboards undercoated

from pittsburgh winter sleet & slush

and at 16 & a driver's license

unleashing everything else

from drive-in to drive-thru

everything seemed to fall in place

when i saw her standing there

waiting for me on her porch

to just drive up

and make a rescue

from her lily white boilermaker dad

brentwood to skibo hall at carnegie tech

felt like a million miles

for two 16-year-olds

melting ice

inside a steamy '55 ford

     turquoise

--- e b bortz