Dodging Autumn

I took this photo last Fall at the family homestead cabin on Casper Mountain in Casper, Wyoming. If this old Dodge could talk, I'm sure it would have a few stories to tell. It served as my husband's father's work truck for several years. He was a skilled and valued carpenter around town. Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure of meeting my father-in-law. He passed away when Robert was a young adult. That was several years before we met.

After the passing of his father, this old Dodge served as Robert's work truck for several more years. Many hours were spent driving back and forth from Casper to the Exxon Mine near Douglas, Wyoming. In addition to providing transportation to and from work, this old Dodge made several trips up and down Casper Mountain, including a few years after Robert and I met. By that time, this old Dodge had sort of become the humorous family treasure as we hauled slash on the mountain having to hold onto the passenger door so that it wouldn't fly open.

Then there was the time Robert wanted to show me what "get-up-and-go" this old truck still had and proceeded to spin a "cookie" at the slash pile. Forgetting for a moment about hanging on to the passenger door, he darn near tossed his new wife out the door in the process. Bringing us to such laughter that tears rolled down our cheeks.

Yes, this truck holds many memories and stories. It's old, tired, and a little worn out. For the past three years, its resting place has been nestled in among the beautiful aspen trees at our cabin. It still runs, but needs some repairs. For now, it just sits there and watches the happenings at the cabin. And I'm sure the father-in-law I never met is watching, too, from behind the wheel of that old Dodge.