It wasn’t the first vehicle I ever drove, but it was certainly the first vehicle I ever bought, and my first truck at that… a 1995 Ford F-150 XLT.

In May of 2001, I had just graduated UTSA and was in the job search immediately. I was borrowing my Mom’s Dodge Intrepid to go to interviews because the ’84 Pontiac 6000 that I had been driving literally died on the way to an interview in New Braunfels. I interviewed with GlobalSCAPE and they made an offer within the week. I picked up my offer letter and went straight to CarMax. I used that offer letter as my proof of salary and took home my new truck. Just graduated, first professional job and now my first truck… I was livin’ the high life!!

The memories from then on are numerous. I’ll do my best here to list what I can remember, but they are in no particular order…

The collection of Texas Music stickers that decorated the toolbox. All the Texas Music concerts around South Texas. Driving around with Logan (puppy) curled up in the passenger seat. The day I realized that Logan was TOO BIG for that passenger seat, I stopped on the road and put him in the bed from then on. The time I drove the wrong way through Greg’s apartment entry gate, and scraped the passenger-side trim on the rock wall… I never fixed it. The time I drove the wrong way through a Taco Cabana drive through — I went up on the curb to go around the other cars coming at me (that was after a night at Midnight Rodeo)!! The first time it got broken into (at the mall) — radio, speakers, Christmas gifts. The second time it got broken into (driveway) — radio, CDs, camera — neighbor caught him and the cops got him! The time I got stuck in the gully next to a bar when I tried to go around the car that was blocking me in… I got stuck and had a dually truck pull me out — but first he moved (ie: drag sideways) that car out of the way to get to me!! The trip to Big Bend where I found my wallet stuck between the cab and the bed after it fell off the toolbox… I was in the middle of nowhere, alone! Sleeping in the bed of the truck with Logan next to me. Logan would never jump into the bed… I always had to lift him and put him in. Sleeping in a hammock at Canyon Lake, with one side tied to the truck and the other to the only tree (see picture below). The flat tire on the way back from Dallas — I had to drive down a steep hill to get to a good place to change the tire. When the drive shaft joint broke and dropped. When a front axle joint broke, pulling out of the driveway… on the way to the airport!! When my dad and my new father-in-law teamed up for the first time to help me replace the spark plugs in the GlobalSCAPE parking lot. The COUNTLESS people I helped to move! The fact that Julie HATED driving it. I lent it out to my parents, Francesco, Simon and Mark after it became our extra vehicle.

There are a few firsts that are most notable:
– Julie was the first date I picked up in my truck, and obviously it was our first date as well. When I dropped her off, I pulled a volleyball out the cab and got her to pepper with me right there in her parent’s front yard!
– I dropped off Reed for the first time at Granny B’s. Putting the car seat in and riding with my son just felt like everything was coming full-circle.

This old beat up Ford had certainly given me everything I needed and more out of a young man’s first truck. I’ll leave you with a few lyrics from Jack Ingram’s “Beat Up Ford” that will always make me think of that old ’95.

A young man drivin’ down a dusty road
Like he’s got somewhere to go
Driving like he’s got a destination
Like he’s got somewhere to go in that beat up ford

See there was a time when he was a young lost soul
He was chasin’ butterflies and rainbows
Until one day when he found his pot of gold
In the words on the young man he turned old
And the old man said

Chorus
You gotta have a good imagination
If your gonna live the life of old
He said you’ve got to drive that Ford like its a stallion
And you’ve got to wear your heart just like a gun The old man said, the old man said
– Jack Ingram “Beat Up Ford”

-Randy

For Springtime babies, I must say that Father’s get the better end of the deal when it comes to the “Firsts” when comparing the timing of Mother’s Day vs. Father’s Day. A month makes such a big difference in an infants development, and for Reed, the development since Mother’s Day has been significant.

A month ago, Julie swore Reed was in a “Daddy Phase” simply because he only seemed to smile when I got home from work and took him to hold and play with. Now, he pretty much smiles and even laughs on-command. He is SO much more interactive these days and that makes him so much more fun than before.

He is a lot sturdier now as well. He is very comfortable being held on our shoulders, where before we would keep falling to the side. Now he seems to grab on around your shoulder and even puts the other arm around your neck. This makes him 10x cuddlier, too!

We didn’t have any special plans for Father’s Day, only that my family had to get together on Saturday morning for breakfast since my dad was heading on a mission trip immediately after his church service on Sunday. Mama B and Papa Roy joined us as well.

On Sunday, Julie ALLOWED us to go to the LATE church service so that I could sleep-in. The problem, as many of you know, is that “sleeping-in” with an infant in the house is relative. It did enable us to take our time in the morning, make coffee and breakfast, and enjoy Reed at his happiest time of the day.

I’ll admit it here… I shed a few tears. I think it caught me by surprise. This “stinkin’ kid” is so adorable and we are so blessed to have him; and days like this only happen once in a lifetime.

I love you, Reed, and I am proud to be your father.

-RB