June 2007
This Monthly View tells
what place cars had in my life. I was born
in 1945. During that year a bomber struck
the Empire State building; the war in Europe
ended after Hitler's suicide in Berlin;
Franklin D. Roosevelt died and was succeeded
by Truman; Rocky Graziano was named "Boxer
of the Year"; the Nuremburg war-crimes
began and A-Bombs were dropped on Japan,
starting the atomic age and ending the war.
It was also the year automobile production
was resumed in the U.S. after having been
halted during World War II .
My Love For Cars
The last cars rolled off
the the assembly lines in January 1942,
so that tanks, trucks and guns could be
built for the war. It was not untill after
the war, in 1945, that cars would return
to the assembly line for the 1946 models.
My family's car was a '50 Packard, which
I regret not having restored before I
left home .
During my childhood years,
one of my favorite past times was making
soapbox cars out of scrap materials. My
mom would take a photo of every one of them.
I remember naming one "Speedy Lizzy",
which was mom's nickname. I had a deep love
for working on cars which has never been
fulfilled in my life.
I have memories of many
cars. One day while riding the school bus
home, I saw this Model "A" Coupe
being sold for $600. I begged my parents
to let me buy that car with my savings,
but to no avail. I learned to drive Dad's
'50 Chevy Pick-up in a cantelope patch and
in my brother-in-laws '59 VW Beetle. Eventually,
I purchased my first car, which was an
orange and white '56 Mercury, 2 door hardtop.
I had it until I bought a new '66 Dodge
Coronet 500, with bucket seats and four
on the floor, while in college.
Car Stories
Have you ever thought
about all the stories you could tell about
car adventures. They became such a part
of my life that I can recall my history
by the car I was riding in at the time.
The drive seemed forever to grandma's house
in West Texas with my sister, brother and
I in the back seat. My dad eventually got
a newer '56 Packard, and a '59 Ford during
my teenage years. I was in Mike Talley's
car when we drove out to the bootleggers
to purchase my first beer. I have fond
memories of my first dates in these cars.
One of my friends read
my testimony book "Wi!!
You Die for Me?" and teased
me about all my car wrecks. I rolled over
my dad's Chevy Pick-up one morning while
driving to school in the rain. I wrecked
only one other car, my Coronet 500, but
I wrecked it four times. The first time
was not my fault, but the rest happened
while I was in a drunken-angry state of
mind.
My first car in California
was a yellow '59 Thunderbird two-door hardtop
convertible. That was '67 when the song
"My Baby, She Wrote Me A Letter"
came out. Another hit at the time was "Come
On Baby Light My Fire" by the Doors.
I rode it all over Hollywood with the top
down listening to music with my friend David.
In a year, the transmission went out, so
I sold it for almost what I paid for it
and purchased a '35 Dodge Pick-up. What
I really liked about that truck was the
crank on the d ash where I could roll the
windshield out at the bottom to let fresh
air in. I'd drive down the freeway at the
truck's top speed of 65 while listening
to Jimmy Hendrix on my newly installed 4
track tape deck. Those were the days.
Riding Along In My Car
Turning points in life
can be remembered by who's riding in your
car, or whose car you are in. I picked up
Dennis Wilson, the drummer for the Beachboys
in my '35 Dodge. This led to me meeting
Manson. He ended up taking my pick-up, not
wanting us to have any individual identities.
He gave it to a man named Farmer John, who
never registered it in his name. I later
got it back from the impound lot, but again
Manson gave it away for favors. I loved
that old truck. I left the Manson Family
for three months in late '68 and early '69,
thinking I was loosing my mind. I located
my friend David, who picked me up in his
brother's '52 Chevy. Unfortunately, I could
hear Manson's voice calling me back.
My job in the Manson Family
was keeping all the cars running. I felt
he could see my gifts when it seemed my
parents did not. Of course, this was all
part of the deception as our thoughts were
turned against our parents by Manson's philosophy
and then continued through his music. He
could see our fears and anger. He manipulated
them and used them for his purposes. He
sent us off to commit the murders in a '59
Ford, which was a car Manson had borrowed
from a friend. I guess you could say I was
in Manson's car, willing to carry out his
desires, but not without reservations. We
never wanted to kill anyone but we became
willing to do anything to please him and
to gain his acceptance.
l ended up in Death Valley
after the murders not only bodily, but literally
in my mind. l was depressed and unwilling
to carry out any more of Manson's orders.
We were staying at a farm house where two
'46 Dodge Power Wagons were parked. They
were some of the first off the assembly
line after the war. I got one of the wagons
running in order to escape from him, not
willing to kill again. I drove down a wash,
out of the desert, and into a salt flat
until I was bogged down. l hitched a ride
to the airport and called my parents for
money to fly back to Texas.
My Last Experience
My old girlfriend in Texas
had a '66 Mustang. lt was the last car I
ever drove. We came home from the lake and
my dad was waiting. The California authorities
had called my cousin the Sheriff saying
I was wanted for murder. They drove me over
to the Collin County jail. I don't recall
what car my dad had purchased, but my mind
was in such a fog that I can barely remember
if I was in the back seat of my Dad's or
Uncle's car. That was one of my last rides.
I've ridden in cars, vans
and buses since that time, but few and far
between. I rode in a bus transferring to
this prison in '93. I recall that cars were
all around me, with people running around
like crazy. Life seems to really slow down
in prison without a car, but I've been able
to keep up with them on television, and
in magazines and newspapers. Also, I've
been able to experience in my mind the cars
my family members have owned. l still love
cars.
I'm often asked what kind
of car would buy if I were on the streets?
It would depend upon the need, but ideally,
I'd like an older car from the late 30's
or early '40s that I could fix up. I wouldn't
be living a fast paced life, so l wouldn't
need a fast car. l know for certain that
I'd be in the Lord's car wherever l go.
Whose Car Are You In
I pray that you are in
the Lord's car, and not in a car that is
going nowhere in life. My car was not a
good one to get in, and my friend's cars
were just as bad. It is important to choose
the right car. There are a lot of cars out
there that seem the right choice, but many
of them lead to death.
It is important to watch
the speed limit. Cars these days can go
much faster than anyone needs to travel.
It is easy to get into a wreck like I did.
And be sure to not drink while driving,
because you need all your senses while making
choices. It is wise to stay filled with
the Holy Spirit and alert, because your
adversary the devil walks about like a
roaring lion seeking whom he may devour,
not those whom resist steadfastly in the
faith. 1
Remember to stay close
to home until you are mature enough to venture
out into the world with Godly values. And
remember, don't pick up any hitchhikers,
because every wrong decision can be life
changing. Instead of talking on the cell
phone, keep a solid relationship with your
Heavenly Father in prayer riding in His
car, living in His protection and driving
with Jesus at the wheel. 2
A Prayer For You ...
Heavenly Father, I believe
that Jesus paid the price for my sin with
His blood, and he took my punishment for
sin at the cross . I believe YOU forgave
me and cleansed me from all unrighteousness,
so that I can now stand righteous before
You in Christ without any fear, guilt or
inferiority. I believe in my heart that
You raised Christ from the dead to give
me a new and eternal life. I welcome You
to live in my heart and to live Your life
through me. Amen!
Scripture References:
1 1 Peter 5:8,9
2 James 4:7,8
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