what part of Texas Hugh - my orginal owner lives there
----------
>From: "Hugh & Therese" <hugtrees@xxxxxxxx>
>To: "Imperial Mailing List" <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: IML: Good weekend
>Date: Sun, Feb 23, 2003, 11:52 PM
>
>Hi, all, especially those in the grip of frozen winter. I have just had a
>lovely Imperial weekend. Yesterday I took the car out for a long drive in
>the country. I belong to the class of owners who simply want to drive their
>Imperial. There are others who like to tinker with them, and others who
>like to show them off. Me, it's all about the driving. I get off the
>beaten track as much as possible. Get the car on to some nice, twisty, hill
>country roads. For the umpteenth time, I ran out of gas yesterday. I had
>just noticed the gauge had been consistently reading just under one quarter
>of a tank since I had left the house and decided to stop at a Chevron
>station where the country road I was on met the freeway. I didn't make it
>by just over a mile. I opened the hood and started walking. It was a
>beautiful day and the roads around Bulverde are very pretty at this time of
>year. The third vehicle that passed me stopped and I got a ride to the gas
>station. A middle aged woman, a rancher, the kind with the big fore arms
>who can pitch a hay bale like it was a soft ball. "Couldn't see you
>walking, son, even on such a wonderful day." When we got to the station she
>needed to fill her truck, too. A man already filling up called over to me,
>"Hey, are the dude who was walking away from that big old car?" Before I
>can say a word, my saviour turns around to him and snarled, "Yeah, doofus.
>I know your daddy raised you better than to see someone walking away from a
>car like that and not stop to help. Lord help us, but I know he did."
>Some Texans take their community responsibilities seriously, and if than get
>to beat up their little brother in public too, well that's just a bonus.
>Carrying two brand new one gallon gas tanks, I set off back towards the car,
>having assured the lady I was sure I would get another lift. I was right.
>First pick up that passed. Two sedans breezed on by. But yet another lady
>rancher, another hard working, strong woman, stopped, had me put the gas in
>the back and took me to the car. "Nice car. reckon she'll start with the
>gas?" I assured her it would and she took off, with a smile. Sure enough,
>with a drop in the carburetor to prime it, the car purred back to life. The
>whole thing must have taken less than fifteen minutes.
>
>Me, Treece and Jennifer went out today to Perdenales Falls, near Johnson
>City today. To my surprise, Treece thought we should take the Imperial
>which was conveniently parked on the street. She does not really trust it
>but we were going with friends who were taking their car so maybe she
>thought she wouldn't have to worry too much if the car did break down.
>Also, she can lie straight across that big back seat and sleep, always a big
>plus. I am delighted to report that Mrs. Blueberry did not let herself
>down. She was about as flawless as possible. Just rolled right along. I
>still am impressed that I can forget all those techniques I learned when I
>drove anemic vehicles. No need to gain or conserve momentum in an Imperial.
>Gotta love being able to accelerate up those long straight hills, passing
>all kinds of cars like there were standing still. For some reason,
>everywhere we stopped, folks were oohing and aahing over the car. We
>encountered some biker chicks at a gas station, dressed to my surprise in
>just tee shirts and jeans. They loved the car. Jenny pointed out the
>obvious, sotto voce, once back in the car. "Won't they be cold?" I had to
>agree. It was a nice day for a hike and clambering over the sheet rocks
>that make up the falls but even we didn't have the windows open. Not that I
>didn't get a sun burn, come to think of it, but not as much as the convoy of
>slow moving, tricked out Jeeps we passed on the way home with their roofs
>off and doors removed. They all tooted their horns and flashed their lights
>as we thundered by, high stylin' by comparison. It seems just about
>everyone can appreciate an Imperial.
>
>She is still burning and dripping way too much oil but the rear window on
>the passenger side came back to life mysteriously today, so I have to count
>that as a blessing. That door does not open, so gaining access to the motor
>and wiring would not have been fun. I think I'd have to remove the door
>from the post on the truncated B pillar, not something I have on my list of
>things I am just itching to do. As I said before, for me, it's all about
>the driving.
>
>Hugh
>58 Imperial. Old, unique and, today, a real pleasure to have around.
>
>
>
>