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This past week I had the honor of serving a childhood friend in a very unique way. Skeeter Anderson has been my long time friend, and even though I had not seen him for 40 years, plus or minus a few years, had no affect on us; we just picked up where we left off.
This sounds like some well planned reunion by one or both of us, but instead it was his father, J.A. Anderson that brought us together. Let me explain. J.A. passed away in 1994 and just recently Skeeter found his ashes at a local funeral home, stored on a shelf. Skeeter has two brothers and all three of the brothers now live in Oregon but wanted to bury the ashes here in New Bedford. I was contacted and had no hesitation about serving my friend.
By now some of you are wondering what this story is doing in a racing web site. I will assure you God always has a plan that will amaze us if we pay attention.
You need to know that there is a long history of racing involved in this story. J.A., Skeeter’s dad, had his first race car in 1940. It was a 1928 Model A Roadster. Think about that, 69 years ago, and I have a picture. The one I remember is his 1937 Chevy, circa 1950. I have picture of it also, and it was raced here in western PA under the the NASCAR banner until Bill Brie formed the State Line Racing Association.
Very interesting to know NASCAR had roots in western PA. Could there be any chance they may go back to their roots? It would be interesting to know what Kenny Schrader, Tony Stewart, and a few more would say.
I will be publishing pictures soon. I am sure they will be eye openers, along with some others I have discovered locally. Needless to say, Skeeter and I bench raced a lot while we were together. He and I were in a Hot Rod club together in the 50′s. If you have not guessed by now, racing is in our blood, and will remain there forever. That is the past, this is the present, and I really look forward to the future. More bench racing, more fellowship; it is difficult to get any better than this.
The 1950′s were the best of times. You had the choice of building a hot rod or a race car for the dirt. There were no fully stocked speed shops in the area, but lots of available cars and friends to help. No wars or political stuff, and every kid I knew could tell you the difference between race cars. We spent our money on cars not drugs. We could tell the size of a bolt at a glance, use tools and get dirty, have fun and fear jail time, and as a result, we saw this great country grow.
Today our fear is not being able to have a cell phone. Ours was not being able to afford to finish our car. I can still do cars but have trouble doing cell phones. Both are important, you decide which is more important.
My vote is for the race cars. I wonder how many Blackberrys will figure into 70 year friendships and the burying of a fathers ashes. Just an old guys thoughts, have your own and love life.
I am independently poor, abundantly blessed and heaven bound; in my opinion, it does not get any better. You choose, then let me know so we can rejoice together.
Be Blessed,
Bill