A couple of days ago I was leaving my farm in my classic 67 ford pickup, as I pulled out on the blacktop and was shifting gears, a memory from long ago came to mind…
When I was a child, summers were golden and endless, and I spent them in the cab of my grandpa’s 1967 Ford truck, exploring the dusty country roads that wound like ribbons through the heart of the countryside. Grandpa’s truck was an sturdy red beast with a three speed-straight shift on the column.
One warm afternoon as we rumbled down a particularly scenic road, lined with fields of grazing cattle, I noticed something peculiar about how Grandpa drove. He was shifting gears smoothly without ever glancing down at the shifter. His eyes were either gazing out the side window, or turned towards me as he recounted tales of his youth. His hands moved with such ease and confidence, it was as if they knew exactly where to go on their own.
Curiosity bubbled inside me like a spring, and I couldn’t hold back my questions any longer. “Grandpa, how do you shift gears without looking at the shifter?” I asked, my voice tinged with both admiration and a touch of bewilderment.
He chuckled, a deep, warm sound that seemed to echo the rumble of the truck. “It’s all about feeling, kiddo,” he said, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. “Want to see a real trick?”
I nodded eagerly, my heart skipping with excitement.
With a grin, Grandpa slowed to a stop, then when he took off again, but this time he would close his eyes while shifting gears.
I was mesmerized, my young mind dazzled by what seemed like magic. Grandpa looked at me with a twinkle in his eyes and gentle smile. “See, once you get to know something well enough, you can do it with your eyes closed.”
That day, Grandpa not only shared the secret of his effortless shifting but also shared a deeper wisdom about life. It was about more than just gears and driving; it was about intuition, trust, and confidence.
Years have passed since those golden summers of my childhood, but the memory of that day, riding along the country roads with my grandpa showing me a simple magic trick is a memory I have always cherished.