As I Grow Older: A Love Affair Remembered – The Pontiac GTO

Say It Ain’t So -

In the New York Times, Sunday, May 3, 2009 edition – I was stunned and thrilled to have my memory banks shaken and stirred by a visual look at a real beauty that basically created my first obsession. There is a full-age layout of images going back to 1965 and then 1970. Even though the story was primarily about how a motor company – Pontiac – is currently in demise, the images triggered some time-travel for me – and maybe for you.

The story in the NY Times was like a snapshot back to a time in my life where I was “the man” in sports – track and field, some basketball, and definitely a swaggering young buck at baseball. I was “in love” with several young women in my class – each one a reason to live and simply to show up to class – just to see their hair in pigtails or cut in some new fashion – and their sweet smiling faces and their shapely heart-stopping legs – and it all set fire to my soul (or if you prefer the blunt message = those girls were gasoline on my junior high male hormonal grass-fire).

But yet, there was also another love – as powerful and strong. I simply had to have her.

I confess. I was in love with another. She was as immaculate and sexual and sleek and power – and she broke my heart in a thousand pieces. I was too young to fully realize the gravity of it all – but it did not matter. I even asked my father about the details and asked him to help get more “information” about her – and he followed through to my surprise. He brought home the booklets – and I knew that some day – some how, I would have one.

I do not want this blog to turn into a True Confessions outlet for aging baby boomers, especially for this one = “me.” But I got to tell you – I got to tell someone. I have to get this off my mind – as it has been a terrible burden all these years. So here goes – please forgive me. I hope you understand. But if you will see – if you just look at what I had to go through – and then to now to know it is all over, well, it is a sad day indeed.

All I will have are the memories of her – unless….maybe, just maybe it could still happen. Sure, even though I am getting older, it could still happen – Enough! Let me just tell you what I am talking about -

I am talking about the Pontiac GTO. There – I did it.

gto-ny-times-1 This is image from the NY Times article and story online (see link above).

From 1965 to 1970 it was a torrid affair. You see it was like this: the whole time was a whirlwind – so many huge – monumental events going on – Vietnam War, Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy assassinated, then Woodstock, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, Kent State shootings, more tragedy in the Vietnam War, and then it all kind of faded away – like Richard Nixon.

The seventies kicked in – and I moved on. And instead of a GTO, I ended up with a old Jeep Wagoneer that my grandfather “loaned” to me. But hey, it had a V-8 and 4×4 – even though it had rolled {with my grandfather in it} downed the side of a mountain in the Blue Ridge of North Carolina somewhere (that is why I inherited it). But I will never forget.

Sure, I still feel the guilt and the lust – even today. All that horsepower – and gas-guzzling greed. I am sorry to say that – I – as a card-carrying member of anything “green” – I am a backslider on this one thing. I know – I know. It’s one big carbon footprint and its a gas hog and its a holdover from the old days of American metal and petrodollar nostalgia. What can I say? In my dreams I would mad max this GTO from hell and back (along with some extra gas tanks). So while you drive your hybrids and other vehicles that run on ethanol or cooking oil or on batteries or goes down the road powered by sail on your roof and the wind – I am guilty. I confess.

I want (notice the ego-driven – self-centered – narcissistic angle here) to drive – just once (or maybe a few times) – a REAL car that gets sucky gas mileage – that throws you back against the seat with G-force from a souped up V-8 – and can “turn it up, Wind it up, blow it out, GTO” (see Ronny and the Daytonas and the YouTube Video).

Now back in the day, I did date a young woman who had a 1970 Chevy El Camino SS (can still hear the song Mama Kin by Aerosmith blasting away as she drove that that rocket with all the confidence of a NASCAR pro – from zero to 100 mph in about a quick kiss) and of course I fell in love – again (with her and the car – but alas – she then told me it really belonged to her “crazy SOB ex-husband” – holy crap ! – now she tells me).

But no matter what ——- it is still the Pontiac GTO and here she is – in two versions. 1969 and 1970.

Oh man – does anybody have one for sale out there ? – will trade all of my articles, books, tenure, rank, class notes, first born, sibs, office chair, URL domain, committee work, blog site, and some old LPs -

pontiac-gto1969 1969