As for most families, having dependable transportation was a priority. When we were small, our family had one car. We had an old yellow Buick for a while.  I remember riding in that car with my mom and dad – dad driving, mom in the passenger seat, and I standing tucked right behind my dad’s shoulder.  No seatbelts in those days.  I also remember at one time we had a used, black late 40’s Ford. My dad drove it to work every day, and if my mom needed it, we all piled in the car and took him to work in the morning and piled in the car to pick him up after work. In 1955, dad and mom bought a new turquoise Ford Fairlane. It was my dad’s pride and joy. When school was out for the summer, we piled into the new car and went on a road trip. We were on a long, dusty road somewhere in southern Colorado, far from any towns. It was hot and the car was not air-conditioned. We stopped at a rustic gas station with a “60 miles to the next services” sign to get something cold to drink. My brother got a Grape Duffey’s and chugged it down. Back on the road, my brother began feeling sick. Dad slowed the car to a crawl. Concerned about his child, he said, Rob, do you want me to stop?” “Yes. No. I’m ok.” was the reply. “Are you sure, because it’s ok if we stop for a while?” “No, it’s ok.” We were back on the road less than 5 minutes when my brother stood up, leaned up over the front seat, and threw up. We stopped. Mom ministered to Rob,  who not only felt terrible from his stomachache but also felt terrible about throwing up on the car seat. My dad took a canvas bag full of water that was tied on the front grill and got an old towel from the trunk. He worked hard at cleaning grape soda off the front seat of his brand new car. He looked a little like he was going to cry. Rob was feeling better soon and the trip continued, but I don’t think the purple stain ever went away.   I think my parents got seat covers to hide the stain.