Mint Condition

I have a 1968 Ford Mustang (affectionately known as “Nugget”) that I bought for $100 a few years ago. It actually started up, but regrettably, I’ve done hardly any work on it—that is to say, until this last weekend.

I had foolishly put the wrong transmission fluid in last time I ran the car, which was back in September. With the wrong fluid it, I didn’t want to run the car and risk ruining the whole tranny system, so it just sat under a tarp until I got off my butt and actually fixed the problem. I bought a new transmission filter and gasket, and on Saturday, I got the car up on a couple wheel ramps and dropped the pan, replaced the filter, and put in new fluid. After several tries, I started her up, and took her on her maiden voyage up and down the driveway!

Now, there is still a lot of work before I can drive this beast down the street. I’ll keep y’all updated on my progress, but here’s a list of major things to be done before I can drive it on the road:

• Bleed the brakes
• Buy new tires ($194.00)
• Buy new headlamps ($11.60)
• Buy headlamp bucket ($119.95)
• Fix taillamp wiring
• Install backup lamps
• Install turn signals
• Buy quarter panel extension ($47.45)
• Install bumpers

That comes to a total of $373, not including shipping, which should be somewhat pricey due to the size of the parts. But not so bad to get this machine on the road!

I have faith, have hope, have love.
What more can one ask for,
But to express these?
And yet, this is what has been taken away.

I have faith, have hope, have love.
Yet to express these would betray
The reason I would at all:
Such a conflict I face within myself.

Does she have faith, have hope, have love,
That until it is just to express
She might wait?
Though painful, she does.

Does she have faith, have hope, have love
That surpasses the vices of man,
That lasts despite
The long and arduous wait we endure?

I have faith, have hope, have love
That she will wait, will hope,
Will love me yet,
Though the distance is so great.

Am I drowning that I cannot speak?
Or is the silence so loud that none can hear?

Sometimes it feels as though my lips
Are tied shut with wires
But it was I who put them there, somehow

Sometimes it feels as though I’m losing
Something I thought was close
But I am letting it grow deeper, somehow

Am I sleeping that I cannot see?
Or is all so dark that none can be seen?

Without glasses
The things on which I used to focus
Are now faded and distant

Without glasses
What is closer is clear
And must be nurtured the same way

Though a time will come when far is clear again
Until then, it is hard to open my eyes