Things Graf 5
It was a place to go when I needed to be alone during my teenage years. I spent a lot of time out there in the hot summer months with my boom box listening to Def Leppard and Quiet Riot. It had two bays with 25’ doors, some grease on the floor and a lot of tools--this place was my dads truck garage.
My father has always worked in the woods driving a pulp loader truck. He is a self-contractor; which means that whenever there is a breakdown he would spend numerous hours in the truck garage repairing his truck. I was always guaranteed to find him out there whenever I was bored and just needed to come hang out and watch him work….in the truck garage.
I typically would listen to music, obscess about the new boyfriend in my life, what I wanted to be when I grew up, and sweep the floor with the big three foot wide broom that he had. I would straighten out his workbench and make sure all of his sockets were in the right socket set, the wrenches were put away in order by size, and frequently would wash his truck and clean out the inside of it…..in the truck garage.
I made the tennis team! Gosh, the snowsled is stuck again! I can’t believe he dumped me! I wonder if there is any gas for the four wheeler. I’ve got to go find Dad and tell him that I left the road and dented the car by driving too fast down the camp road. I wonder if Dad will take me fishing. I’m not sure if I’m ready to get married. I think I’ll quit my job and go back to school. How do I make my kids mind? I could find all of the advice or solutions to my dilemmas by going into the truck garage.
Yes, I believe that the actual “thing” that means the most to me is actually the quiet presence of my dad when I was growing up right into my adulthood. He is a great listener and friend. The truck garage just happens to be the spot where I could always find him when he wasn’t working in his truck.
I don’t get a chance to hang out in the truck garage as much as I used to. I guess I really don’t like to pick up greasy nuts and bolts. The kids clothes usually get covered with soot and grease whenever they are out there. However, I did a lot of growing up in that garage. I hope that my kids get to experience some freedom of their own out there one day--and savor the fond memories of their grampie in his truck garage.
Consider offering this to the school literary magazine. Let me know if that idea appeals.
ReplyDeleteYou can also recycle it for an example essay later in the semester with a tweak or two.
This is really excellent, a very enjoyable piece to read, and I know you liked writing it.