On Friday, November 16th, this nation faced a dark day. One of our great American soldiers was taken down. Our hearts sunk as we heard the news and we reminisced about the years of service this soldier has given this country. The wheels of bureaucracy and scandal have taken their toll on our hero, not General Petraeus….the Hostess Twinkie.
While there will be speculation for the next few months on whether or not it will be saved and how, we must bow our heads and remember this great warrior and his exploits. Let us not forget that he did not fight alone. This squadron included such recruits as The Ho-Ho, The Ding Dong, Butternut Bread and those fabulous twin girls, Honey Bun and Suzy Q.
As we lament over this tragedy, it reminds us that America has lost many of its icons.
LEATHER RACING HELMETS
We needed the safety. I get that. It’s not about the equipment; it was about the race-or-die men who piloted machines strung together with shoestrings and bubble gum. They wore denim shirts and wristwatches, smoked in the pits and spit in the face of death.
STATION WAGONS (especially with the fake wood on the side)
Four people could lie across the hood, kids used to roll around in the back when Dad turned the corner and if they had seat-belts, who cared?
SUPER-BIRDS
Everything in sports is so fair and equal. We need a little cheating put back into racing. When King Richard Petty started these engines, the competition didn’t know what hit ’em. He had the advantage and was (obviously) proud to show it.
PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SWITCHES
Remember when Mama was co-pilot and she could roll your windows down too? In addition, where are the cars with key holes in both the driver AND passenger doors.
HEADLIGHT SWITCHES ON THE FLOOR
If you remember cars with this feature, just go ahead and enjoy those fond memories.
THE SPACE SHUTTLE
No it’s not car-related, but remember when everything was “space-age technology? Manufacturers fooled around with Turbine engines and Rocket booster taillights.
PHONE BOOTHS and FRUIT STANDS
Where is Superman supposed to change at now? Movies nowadays with their generic chase scenes. Jumping and drifting. Where are the days of crashing through the All-American New York fruit stand or jumping out of a phone booth in the nick of time?
JACK-IN-THE-BOX
…and let’s add to that list Drive-Ins, Full-Serve Gas Stations (where they checked your oil and washed your windows) and Make-Out Spots.
ICONIC CARS
Herbie the Love Bug, The Batmobile, The General Lee. Gone are the shows where the cars were just as important as the actors.
BARBIE
No guys! I’ve not gone soft. Car guys of the 60’s could teach their princess the car hobby because Barbie had the coolest vehicles. The girl had a motorcycle, a camper, a Corvette, a Jeep and the list goes on. The new girl has curves, seductive looks but no cool wheels that Dad can appreciate and no All-American Girl smile.
OLDSMOBILE
Some brands were just pages in our industrial history. It may not be my father’s Oldsmobile, but it will never be my son’s.
Alas. Gone but not forgotten.
