daily grist; a woman drove me to drink and I didn’t have the decency to thank her. WC Fields
You can hardly turn the TV on anymore without witnessing six or seven ads over the course of the evening asking your opinion if you think they should legalize marijuana on a federal basis? Personally, I don’t really have a preference one way or another because I found a long time ago that situations like these are just like water; eventually they will find their own level regardless of what I do. However, one of those”please legalize the devils lettuce”ads last night reminded me of an incident that took place back in the winter of 1962. It was one of those miserable cold, thick foggy winter days where you could only see about 40 feet in front of you. I was working for a service station repair company in Stockton California at the time, and they sent me to the south part of the county to pick up a big 8000 gallon water tank/wagon from one of the local farmers. The customer wanted us to put an engine and pump on it along with spray nozzles so he could water down the roads in his orchards and vineyards. I was headed N. On Airport Way doing about 20 miles an hour because of fog was so thick, and I knew I was approaching an intersection a couple miles south of the airport. About 50 yards from the intersection there were flares in the middle of the road and the guy waving a big red flag. He advised me that I was going to have to pull over to the side of the road as far as I can get because they were moving a big house S. On Airport Way. So at the intersection I was able to pull over about 50 feet in a big wide place that one other car was occupying. I pulled up next to the car and shut the engine off on my truck and poured me a cup of coffee from my thermos, because the flagman said would be 10 or 15 min. before the house got to us. The other car next to me was a 52 Buick four-door roadmaster sedan with four guys inside of it, but you could hardly see them because the car was full of smoke. I sat there for about 10 min. drinking coffee when the driver looked up and I realize I knew him. The only thing I remembered was his name was Phil. We went to school together and I just knew him casually. I scooted over to the passenger side roll down the window and motioned for him to do the same, which he did, so I said Phil, what’s going on man? He said I’m cool man, how do you know me? I said, we went to school together, I’m JD Rhynes, now do you remember me? I remember you man, what’s going on? Just working my friend, how are things with you? Just sitting here with my buddies smoking some excellent dope and being cool, he said. So we talked for about another five or 6 min. and just about then I saw the dark shape of a two-story old-fashioned Victorian house with a tall spire on each side materializing out of the fog at about 10 miles an hour. It got about 20 yards from us when Phil looked up at his face got a look of terror on it, and he yelled; LOOKOUT ! And dove for the floor of his car, and stayed there for about three or 4 min. Finally his head bobbed up over the door , and I asked him, Phil what was that all about? He still had that wide-eyed look on his face, and said , man I thought I saw a house coming at us ! I said, house ? What the hell are you talking about? I swear I thought I seen a house coming at us he said. That must be some real good dope you guys are smoking I said. Good to see you again phil, Gotto go to work, fired up my truck and headed to the shop. It was all I could do to keep a straight face after the house went by and I was talking to him.I laughed for the rest of the day!
That was the last time I ever seen him, but I’ve often wondered what kind of stories he would tell about that incident?
