It was a soggy Saturday morning, but I had no problem with the weather. I was going to be working on my old truck, warm and dry in my garage and shop. Car show season is upon us and even though I’ve had all winter to make the changes and upgrades, it seems the months have slipped by.
I need a few things, some parts and some tools, so my first order of the day is to head downtown. Any good restoration job starts at the auto supply store. I walk into Princess Auto and I can seen the rain has chased many week-end mechanics indoors.
I bump into another car guy and we discuss our plans.
“I’m working on my truck today,” I tell him and he nods and understands.
I can’t find what I want so I drive over to KMS Tools. I pick up one of the things I need and spy an old school mate. Rick has been around as long as I have and we discuss his after-school job in his Dad’s garage and monkey wrenching in general.
“I have to go Rick, I’m working on my truck today.”
One last stop at Canadian Tire to search for the last item. I find what I need and, as always, about five other things I don’t really need but might come in handy. Time to head home.
My stomach grumbles and I see it’s about 11:15 so I head for Dot’s Cafe and an “all day breakfast.” Just as I sit down, my friend John comes in and I motion him over. John comments on the rain and I tell him it’s OK because I’m working on my truck inside today. John is on the way to Kamloops to visit his brother who is struggling with cancer. We talk about trucks, and brothers and cancer and we linger over the bacon, eggs and coffee.
I make a quick stop at the new Oxford Gallery around the corner on Salt Lane, where Serge is having a grand opening. We discuss poetry and art and I tell him about my old truck that I am working on today and how sometimes grease under your fingernails can be poetry as well.
On the way home I see a garage sale sign. You should never pass a garage sale, particularly on a rainy day when the crowds are down. I don’t find much but I meet a lady whose daughter went to school with my son and we update each other on our kids.
“It looks like a good day for writing,” she says.
“Not today,” I reply, “I’m working on my truck.”
I buy some homemade muffins and I head for home.
After I change my clothes I gather all the tools together, find my creeper and head for the garage. It’s almost 2 p.m. when the first wrench is turned and it is not turning easily. After more frustration than progress, I need a break, so I stop for a garage sale muffin and a coffee.
Close to 5 p.m., I have most of the job done. I didn’t think this project was going to take all day, and my shop, my tools and my hands are going to need another hour to clean up.
But I smell of grease, oil, and gas. That’s a smell from the 1960s. and that’s good thing. At least that’s what McGregor says.