Silver dollars & the real world

Cars of beauty:

 1951 most cars I remember were solid color or a two -tone as it was called above. But Ford shocked me and many with the pain job below on their 51 Crestliner, my Brother bought one.

 The Crestliner started a long line of 'sweet' paint jobs. My buddies and I loved them.

For Saturday’s stuff:

My dad gave us a silver dollar once and said, “If you keep this, you will never be broke.”

(Mine was more worn than this)
Passing through Las Vegas many years ago Sherry was collecting match books, a very cheap souvenir to remember destinations. We did not go out there to gamble. My girl would spit on the sidewalk before she would gamble. We were taught from childhood DO NOT GAMBLE, it could send you to hell. I was always careful to not tell mama I played marbles ‘for keeps’. At the time I was under 12 years old. I always thought you had to be at least 12 to go to hell, so I took a chance or two!

Anyway, back to Sin-City. I told my sweetheart I was not going in a Casino to get matches without putting a quarter in a slot machine (She stayed outside). I don’t remember winning anything (I think you only go to hell for gambling if you win!) But the thing I remember is all the machines paid off in silver dollars. If you bought something you got silver dollars in your change.

Funny that, huh? I should have gotten a hundred or so of them to keep! Today real silver dollars go for about $20. I do have several (not hundreds!). I guess the boys will find them one day.

Years ago I mentioned stopping in North Platte, NE to my brother Junior. He laughed saying I was there once, Lemme tell you about it.

In WWII all troop trains transporting men From the East to the ‘Pacific War Theater’ stopped in North Platte. A gracious town that became famous for feeding the troops free. Naturally Junior’s train stopped there. He enjoyed the free meal. He was only 17. All the $ change was silver dollars. He was going to buy a beer and only had a $20 bill. 

The waitress told him his change would be $19 in silver dollars.

JR had said to me, ”I told her that much silver would pull my pants down.”

Laughing, he continued, “She said quietly, it would pull her pants down too.”

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My idol, my tough big brother a Gunnersmate, said, “Embarrassed, I ran all the way back to the train.”

(A country boy introduced to real world conversation talk)

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