My Dad's Dodge
Or
Learning to Fly

I can still remember the day he brought it home…
All shiny and new… Metallic green with white trim…
A five windowed step-side…"the best!" he said.

I washed it lovingly, carefully
Polishing the chrome, blinded by the sun-sparks…
And then he said, “let's go to work!”

And then I climbed in… MY door... MY side…
my feet barely reaching the floor...I switched on the AM radio
and we listened to the score

We got to the shop, the mailbags to load,
I got right at it, packing 'em tight
For we had lots of stops to make that night

Dad fired it up and she rumbled back
And down the alley we went
Around noon Dad decided it was time for a "snack"...

He was the favorite, there was no doubt...
As every waitress would gather about…
He had many "girlfriends", but to Mom he was true…
I guess they couldn't resist this rugged guy with eyes of blue

A donut for me, some pie for him
And coffee for both... (a treat)
"Always leave a tip," he'd say, and I'd pull out a rock
He'd grin and say, "I'll get it, son."

Coming home now, the end of the run
Bone tired and cold, we'd race the setting sun
Then suddenly it happened, he pulled the truck to a stop

"Why don't you give her a try, son," he said
And my stomach began to drop
I got in behind the wheel for the very first time

It was as though I'd never been tho many times pretended
to work the clutch, shift the gears and "drive"..unattended
but now this was real...

The wheel was six times larger now,
The clutch a million miles away
And then I remembered…
Ease out the clutch, a jerk then stop…
Second, then third, wipe the sweat
From my brow…

And suddenly we were flying, I was scared to move..
“Easy touch, Son, stay out of the sand.”

Home now, my energy spent.
I’ll always remember that day
My Dad made me a Man

To my Father… I miss him so