My brother Carl had a foolproof test of a car’s worth. If the car could climb to the top of South Mountain without shifting into second gear, it was a keeper. He challenged our father to the contest.
Carl’s ’38 Ford easily passed the test, but our father’s old clunker was known to require low gear to reach the summit.
Much bantering went on until our father bought a peppy Pontiac. It took South Mountain by a storm. No contest.
Carl came up with a new contest, a miles per gallon challenge. Carl revved the engine at every stop light. When the light turned green he sped away with a heavy foot. He arrived at the next light and sounded the power of his ’38.
Our father learned the formula for fuel conservation from Uncle Will. It was a simple tip that Carl debunked. First, do not race to beat the light. Second, when the light turns green accelerate gradually to the posted speed. Our father chided Carl. You can pass anything but a gas station.
In his youth Carl knew much more than our father. When he became father of three he realized that following father’s advice paid rich dividends. The wisdom to honor your father became more than hollow words. He was heard to say I wish I had listened to Daddy much sooner in life.