So a couple times a year I go to Tennessee to visit family. The first time I was there, 3 years ago, we were driving down a road in the middle of nowhere. If you have never been there I highly recommend it. The views are spectacular.
Anyway, I was riding in the passenger side of the vehicle taking in the scenery and looking at all the cars on blocks in the front yards. The massive amounts of abandoned cars down there amaze me. I was thinking of all the cars that might interest me then I saw that special one. It was a silver Pagoda and it was in the middle of a yard! We stopped on the way home because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I knocked and no one answered.
Over the next 3 summers we traveled down there 4 more times. We stopped by each time and no one ever answered. The only life we saw where a bunch of small dogs that came to the window when I knocked. The yard was always mowed and nice but no one was ever home.
Three weeks ago we were heading back for a visit so I decided to go prepared this time. I was taking a letter to leave if they weren’t home asking them to contact me. If they were home this time I took some money to show them that I was very interested in buying their car. We showed up and knocked once again. They were home!! I thought it was my lucky day. I worked my self all up thinking about how awesome it would be if I could buy that car. All the things I could do, all the dreams of fixing it up, driving it or selling it!
When she answered the door I lost all sense about me. I just blurted out “I’m from Ohio and I would really like to buy your car. I have one very similar. Here is some money I brought with me.” Then I realized I sounded like a little kid trying to buy a toy for the first time. She stuttered a little at my lack of social skills at the moment and said it wasn’t for sale. I composed myself and tried to talk her out of the car. We had a good conversation and she was very knowledgeable about the history of the car. Her uncle had owned the car until he passed away 15 years ago and that’s how she got the car. She said she drove it a few times and loved it. It was in their garage for a few years until they needed the room and they pushed it outside. She said her and her husband were going to fix it up this spring. I offered what money I had one more time and she politely declined and said she has turned down a significant more money than that. I had no other options but to throw in the towel and leave. I asked if I could take a few pictures before I go and she said absolutely.
I walked sown to the car and began taking pictures. Her husband walked out and I told him of my conversation with his wife. He said He wished she would sell it, they aren’t going to fix it up in the spring because he can’t find parts. I asked if he could convince his wife to sell and he said she won’t sell it for anything.
Oh well, It made for a good story. Very nice people though, this isn’t the last time I’m going to stop by..
Here are the pics. Notice the plates were registered last in 1988.
