Gary's Vega

There is a tradition among my Dad and his brothers that when two or more of them get together they get in a car and go look at another car that one of them has just bought or wants to buy. Usually the car they are looking at doesn't run. I've been tossed in the back seat on this ritual for about 40 years now, and am just beginning to enjoy it! As with most things you never appreciate them until they are gone and my Dad will soon be without all but one of his brothers. This encounter was with Gary and his Vega, which he acquired free of charge, and pushed over to his friend Mitsu's house, who is working on getting running. Mitsu confirmed on this morning that Gary's car is F'ed up, (his words not mine) and that Gary will need to have some patience on this one. As I get older, it's these moments that I love and cherish the most, not simply because I enjoyed tagging along, but because it was a moment of happiness between a strained relationship, my Dad and uncle that is. My Dad said we were heading out to find Gary and bring him back for Thanksgiving for his mother, God rest her soul, and absolutely not for himself. That is the truth. I know that. I also know that she smiled when they smiled over that broken down Vega; and I smiled too. We all forgot about the past, and the future for a moment too. Things don't always end well that start well, Gary didn't stay for Thanksgiving, and Joe is heavy on all our hearts and minds right now.
Photo Stats: Nikon D80, Nikkor 17-55mm F2.8, 1/160-1/250, F4, ISO 320, wide end of zoom. Comments: I love the image with Gary and Mitsu blurred in the background, it shows their friendship and a nice detail POV from the Vega. I don't mind that Gary and Mitsu are out of focus, it is really better that way. It was planned that way too. I shot this: background in focus and foreground blurred just in case, but it is not as good.