Back in 2017, when Mr. FixIt and I were a new item in the dating scene, he called me on a drizzly afternoon.
“Hey…I was driving home and saw a beautiful two seater Mercedes!”
Oh, no. That was Mr. Virgo’s dream car. Was I going to get to enjoy it instead?
“Really? Are you interested in getting something like that? Let me tell you…I had a Mercedes once. They are NOT cheap to take care of!”
“Well…why don’t you come with me to look at it.”
I agreed and the next afternoon, we drove by to see. We sat in the truck looking at that gorgeous silver bullet and he didn’t make a move to get out. He didn’t say a word. He just looked at me and smiled.
“What?” I laughed.
“I’m sure you would be much more interested in what’s under the carport than in the little sports car.”
My eye followed his gaze and there she was! A black and white, 1967 Franklin travel trailer. The Franklin Coach Company was founded in 1945 and was instrumental in creating the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and is the longest running, continuous ownership in the industry.
I squealed and clapped my hands and jumped out of the truck. A man came out of the house and walked toward us.
“Hey, there! You all interested in the Mercedes? I just put her out yesterday. I’m buying a Corvette so I need to get rid of this baby first.”
I smiled and said, “No. I’m more interested in that little camper. Is she for sale?”
The camper was actually his 16-year-old daughter’s. Her best friend had fixed up a camper, so she wanted to do one, too. But, as with many things teenage girls do, it stopped being fun when it became work. I get that. But, I’d been wanting a vintage camper and I thought maybe this one would be mine.
We talked back and forth and his daughter was willing to part with it, so I dubbed her “Joy” and took her out to the farm. And, as with many things ADULT girls do, life got really busy and she sat at the farm all this time…covered up and waiting for me. I kept her out there mainly because I wanted to give the appearance that someone was living there. Now that the farm will be sold soon, it was time to bring “Joy” home to the Ponderosa.
I still have dreams of fixing her up. I’m far more likely to do so if she’s close at hand. Even if I don’t, she’s mine.
I’m back out at the farm after spending a day at the Ponderosa. Today is Mother’s Day, and…as much as I love my step-children and they love me, this is their mom’s day…not mine. I’ll get phone calls and that will be lovely. I told Mr. FixIt we would celebrate when this work is all finished at the farm. I remember Mother’s Days when the kids were growing up. There were so many times when I just wanted a few hours to myself to take an uninterrupted bubble bath and a nap. Now, I wish I could be with them. Daughter #1 will be here in June, so I’ll have my Mother’s Day then. And I’ll see Daughter #2 in September.
I hope you have a good day today…you are loved.
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““Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),”
Ephesians 6:2 ESV