Musical Memories: Gary Stewart and Willys Jeeps

My theme is Musical Memories:  The Memories that music brings rushing back.

In the first years of our marriage, Pete got on a kick with Willys Jeeps.  He had about five or six old jeeps at one time. They were the PERFECT vehicle for riding old dirt roads and and down muddy pipelines on a starry summer evening with fireflies thick as Christmas lights.  

In Texas by James A. Michener, he all but credits the Willys Jeep and a steady supply for oil for winning the European Theatre in WWII. An unstoppable little vehicle. Light enough, a few strong men could lift it if necessary.

Easy to fix.  I remember Pete taking the cover off the shifter housing one night and shifting with a screwdriver to get us home.

I wouldn't trade anything for those days of riding, drinking, singing, laughing, muddin'.  Some of our best moments and lots of people who are now gone from this world wrapped up in those memories.

And the constant theme to these rides was provided by one old 8-track player that Pete would switch from vehicle to vehicle and this Gary Stewart album.

The beauty of the old 8-track was if dirt or mud got in it, all you had to do was blow it out, lick the tape and go again.

Now when I hear Gary Stewart, I can feel the cool evening air on my skin and smell the gumbo mud.  We are young and free once more.

Have you ever ridden in a Willys Jeep?
Ever been muddin'?
Are you familiar with Gary Stewart's music?