Once a brilliant engineering professor, John is now seriously challenged by this disease. Although he still looks quite well, doctors have a dire diagnosis for this septuagenarian. In fact, his wife Norma was given palliative care suggestions at John’s last medical appointment now that chemotherapy seems unable to arrest the growth of his tumour.
In spite of this, John continues to smile as he propels his wheelchair around his neighbourhood. I decide to be his wingman for a few of his friendly sorties last week.
As we walk, I ask John questions about family and friends. His responses are often truncated although with prompting, he usually makes himself understood.
As a friendly motorist waves at us, John explains, “I don’t know the names anymore, just the mansions.
"Let's get in the shade," I suggest as we continue along."It's too hot in the sun."
"If you like the shade, you must like the sun," John states with an engineer's logic.
"My A’s are gone,” he continues, referring to his loss of verbal skills.
“Yes, but your numbers are great,” I interject. John nods his head in agreement.
“I don’t worry about wizards and clowns. I let my wife handle that stuff now,” he states nonchalantly.
I can only surmise he’s talking about religion. Now I’m the one smiling.
As we foray beyond his usual route, we happen upon a kind gentleman who’s working on an old rusty car. The car owner recognizes John and invites us to have a look at his ‘baby’.
“It’s a 1950 Dodge Wayfarer Convertible,” the man declares with all the pride of a new parent.
“It has six cylinders and a semi-automatic fluid drive transmission,” facts that don’t mean a lot to me but make John’s eyes light up.
“Yep, this roadster is a classic. It was actually in a 1953 movie called the Hitchhiker starring William Talman (DA Hamilton Burger of Perry Mason fame). I bought it back in the sixties and hope to have it in working order some day. John, I’ll make sure to swing by your house and take you out for a drive once it's roadworthy.”
As we made our way back to John’s house, I asked John if he’d like a ride in the roadster some day.
“No,” John replies. “If he hasn’t fixed yet, he never will.”
Keep the faith John…or better still…let us keep the faith for you while you hang on to your wisdom.
All 1950 Wayfarers, including this 1950 Dodge Wayfarer convertible, sport fender-mounted taillights. The Dodge Wayfarer, "favorite of all youthful America," looks to be a better buy than ever. Heed the call of the open road in the sportiest car on the highway. The durable fabric top on its lightweight aluminum frame can be raised or lowered quickly and easily with one hand. Chrome-trimmed safety glass side windows that roll up completely with one-and-one half turns give a completely weatherproof car... You'll enjoy the relaxing comfort of the extra wide, soft-cushioned knee-level seat with legroom to spare... the festive playtime look of bright interior fittings and colorful [artificial] textile leather upholstery. Out on the road, you'll thrill to the eager responsiveness of the big 103 horsepower Dodge 'Get-Away' engine.
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