Making the rounds, this time in the red ’59 Ford Ranchero he had gotten from his son Larry Dean, me driving. First up to J-ville to see Sinders. No transactions here, that is trading, except maybe pocketknives. “hate to leave without trade’n “ he says or perhaps simply “what kind of knife you got?” He began the day by securing his Prince Albert tobacco and taking three or four trader knives from the top of his dresser. The keepers having been safely secured in drawer of said dresser. Then on to Gilmour, no deal here either. Most times folk come up the hill, at the old home place to see him. But, every once in while he’d make the rounds, he’d hear something, or he had not heard from someone in a while, and off we’d go. When I was younger, he drove, as he aged and as I aged, now I’d drive most often. Out to Antioch, slowing down to admire Charley Scott’s garden along the way. Stopping at Joey’s to shoot the breeze, not wandering far from the truck, rolling a cigarette, catching up with the happenings of a friend. Passing into Sullivan county, last stop in Cass to meet someone he knew, but I’d never had. This time more productive. He traded off the Ranchero, we’d been riding in all morning. Trade it for a pretty little four door maroon and white ’64 Fairlane, don’t know if he got any “boot”, but I know he paid none. So, on the way back from Cass. He says “Donnie, I want you to have this car.” That was by papaw, Con Pierce.
PS. Word got back to us a week or so later that the Ranchero caught fire. I got a bit more use out of the car until the water pump gave way.
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