Ford Econoline for Sale

I wanted to follow up on my last hub with this one as they are very much intertwined in the journey of life. My last hub was about my 1988 Ford Bronco given to me by my best friends wife and on Feb 4th 2012 it had clocked the 600,000 mile mark.

That car was given to me in 2003, and as I have stated in my profile, and hubs, I am a performing and recording musical artist living in Nth Cal.

We live on a property, in a warehouse, in a vineyard, it is peaceful and we have our studio here. Also we have other tenants on the property and two of them are Bill and Jesse Silva, the Silva Brothers, who own and operate a trucking company. They are old school guys in their 80's still doing long hauls, Jesse is the mechanic, Bill does the driving. They were around when it used to be apple production in the old days in Sonoma County before it all changed to wine and vineyards.

It's 2010 and the recession is still at it's peak, I am working part-time with The Salvation Army in Lyton Springs, Healdsburg for $9.31 an hour, driving trucks, picking up donations and handling the crew in rehabilitation, as well as doing my nightly gigs, which always works out, gigs and part-time work.

I got a call from a booking agent who says he wants to book me and can put together a NW tour, I'm good to go, always wanted to see Montana, loved the old cowboy poetry and Lonesome Dove always had beautiful descriptions of Montana, i have 4 piece band, they are getting a little grumpy as they get older and when I tell them we are heading out they all balk at the idea, some people like to travel others don't, so first step rehearse new band.

So I go about rehearsing the new band, it's a drag each time but seeing the country up north was my motivating factor, particularly Montana.

I'm still working for the Salvation Army at this time, but I don't have a van, got to get a van to make this tour, don't have much money, want to spend $1000.00 if I can help it, but I can fix cars, pre -computer ones anyway and i have Jesse at the property to answer any questions.

And now I'm in the craigs list adds and researching, I'm thorough, and have won and loss in the car department and feel I can make good with my knowledge, I'm looking, searching,making calls and I check a few out, all over the map, suburbs here and there, strange people, strange vans, different stories attached to each of them, some burning man hippies with foam holding the chassis together, church people with relics from the past, suburban folk not knowing what they were doing with a van in the first place, sons having to sell elderly fathers only last prized possession for less than both of them ever wished and looking at each other and wandering what they will be doing after the sale is complete.

I find a hit in Livermore,the price is right, $1300.00 for a 1991 Ford Window Van...... what the hell is a window van ?, i look it up, don't see no window van in the Ford lineup, but the picture looks like a Ford Econoline and it's the same body shape as my 1988 Ford Bronco Mark 2, so I'm feelin good, telephone call doesn't spook me out and once againthe price is rightand off I go, off to Livermore.

It's a 2-3 hour drive and now I'm heading out of Livermore, through the hills and someone comes out from a big property as I speak through the speaker phone and meets me at the gates leading in to the property.

He is about my age 45 at the time and up the property we go, I see the van, it looks good, I checkout everything, it was his dads, looks like a low commute vehicle, I'm cautious and say I'll call tomorrow, which I do and I eventually purchase the vehicle for $1000.00.

After DMV fines, a new radiator and small accessories I got a van for $2000.00, I have fined tuned it with the help of Jesse, always helpful with Knowledge and tools and loves seeing younger guys workin on their cars.

We are loaded up now, the band is rehearsed, the van prepared, the tour is booked, there are 4 of us, there is no room left in the van after packing all of our things, it is a balloon about to burst.

As I start the engine I get out of the car and remember to say goodbye to Jesse with all the thanks for his help. His office is small with remnants from the past everywhere, including my favorite, a painting of a big fully loaded Semi cruising down the road and in the clouds a faint picture of "God" pointing the way as the rain pours down.

Jesse shakes my hand and says, "that van will get you back fine, you did a good job David"

"Thanks for all your help again Jesse" I says to Jesse.

I walk away from Jesse with a strange feeling, the feeling one can never figure out until certain things have passed, there are approx 4000 miles ahead of me, I have 10 days to do 12 shows, I am dressed well, my companions are by my side, summer is deciding it's final pending departure. It is Sept 19th 2010 and the leaves of October are begging to be dropped from the branches that hold them captive. Soon they will be set free and they will cast a golden blanket on the ground for a moment to remind us of their beauty, then slowly disappear, one day they will return again with a different face.

David T. Carter

*** Please read next hub for conclusion to this hub****