The San Juan County Hillbilly's

I know that many people have seen the TV series, Beverly Hillbilly's. How many of you have heard the story about the San Juan County Hillbilly's? I'm here to tell ya it's a true story. It could either be a comical story, or a story one might shove their nose in the air, roll their eye's and say, "Oh my gosh, now isn't that just so lame, like my gosh, who would do such a thing other then "Them." The them meaning me, my mom, my brother and sister, dad, and that orange jeep willies truck.
I'll never forget the day dad came home saying he was buying a jeep. Wow! Now that would be so cool I thought, as I pictured one of the in style jeeps of the times with the top off and me cruzin in it and going out in the hills with dad. Yes, indeed, I was so excited, I was excited until that day - the day dad drove up in the yard in it. I about died. I didn't know that a Willies Jeep was a pick up, an old pickup, and it was ORANGE. Oh my gosh, was I ever let down. Being a teen, being cool and in style was so important. After a few days I guessed I could live with that orange thing. I guess I wasn't aware that a Willies Jeep was a collectors item, an antique, way cool to dad for sure.
All was fine during the adjustment period of my dismay until - until the day dad came in the door of the house smiling. He was so proud of himself once again. He had come up with a solution for the truck not being big enough for us all. All of us being myself, mom, Brian,Jessi, and dad. We simply needed more room. Dad had found an old theater seat to put in the back of the Willies Jeep.
He wouldn't! He couldn't! Enough humiliation, please NO dad No! He didn't hear my cries. The next thing I knew dad was bolting that seat in it's place, in the back of the truck. Now imagine if you can my mom, my sister, and brother riding in the back of that jeep, sitting on the theater seat all dressed up in their nice Sunday cloths, riding to church. Oh my gosh. Notice I didn't mention myself? It's because I always denied ever riding in the back of that truck, and worse, sitting on the theater seat like the hillbilly's on TV. At least they had money so people would kiss up to them and like them no matter how different they were. They were famous, but us, we were just the Low's and I mean low to all my friends. I guess we just needed the money to help the situation.
I'm almost 50 years old now. Now, I would probably get in the back of that truck and just stick my tongue out at anyone who wanted to point fingers and put us down. I'd do it now just for the sake of dad, and how proud he was of making the best of the situation - or just wanting to be different- or just seeing what kind of reaction he could get. What ever the purpose was, that old Orange Willies Jeep has many memories.
Our mother has fond memories of driving that old thing to Monticello to give birth to my sister. In labor she drove that bouncy hard to shift truck 21 miles. What a tough women. She never complained - too much anyway.
We hauled many loads of wood in that truck, it was a good working truck for sure. As I remember all the things about that truck I have to cry, laugh, roll my eyes, smile, and think to myself the lessons that truck taught me. A mouth full for a truck eh. Maybe now, if someday when you're driving down the road and you see a jeep willies truck, you'll remember this story.
If it's orange and has an old theater seat in it, please let me know so I can blow it up:) Just kidding!