Bye Bye, Dada Truck
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 The Dada Truck came into our lives by accident -- a nice metal crunching, oh-boy-I'm-better-off-donating-this-wreck kind of accident. One minute I was driving a BMW with too many miles and problems to get a click-through on Craigslist, the next minute I was waving good-bye as the flatbed from Cars For Causes hauled its carcass off in exchange for a tax write-off (which does NOT happen - don't believe the hype).
Since I had been driving alone and no one was hurt, I saw the accident as a good thing. As a new dad I simply felt too guilty spending perfectly good diaper money on a new car. But now, a world of possibilities lay ahead of me. Well, let's be honest: one very real, very desirable possibility lay ahead of me: T-R-U-C-K.
That evening, d Wife, our then 7-month old Fury and I set out to kick the tires of my dream ride, the Chevy Silverado. But as quickly as my pulse raced as our sales consultant Brian guided us through the herd of shiny new trucks, my spirits fell as I realized that even the lowest models were priced a tad above what I was willing to spend on transportation to work. I have never used the term crestfallen before, but thinking back to that moment, I can say I was utterly crestfallen. None of us said anything as we made our way back to d wife's car, not even Brian. But then...
"Hey, Jim. What about this one?"
I glanced over to what Brian was pointing at, then chuckled at his well-intentioned joke to lighten my mood.
"Yeah sure. If I could afford it!" (when crestfallen, I lack the skill to produce witty comebacks on the spot).
I had no reason to believe Brian was serious. I had just seen the lowest end Silverados they had on the lot to no avail. The behemoth I was staring at was a Silverado 3500. The biggest meanest truck in Chevy's non-commercial fleet.
"Well maybe you can. It's last year's model. Plus, I've had this bad boy sitting in the lot for two years. No one in this area wants to buy a dually."
(What? You mean you aren't often called upon to tow horse trailers on a moment's notice in Los Angeles? Get out!)
"Well... does it have a roomy back seat?" I asked in a feeble attempt to let practicality steer my purchasing decision.
"See for yourself!" replied Brian, as he opened the suicide doors (it's just a catchy term! ignore, ignore, ignore).
I placed Fury in the surprisingly roomy back seat and a single image flashed through my head: a pea in a Sherman Tank. Nothing on the road could hurt my baby boy as long as he was sitting in this vehicle. So that night I pulled the "it's safer for the baby" card and rationalized my way to 7,000 lbs of rumbling big boy toy. Plus, I actually did get it for less than the Silverado 1500. Can you blame me for passing up a great sale?
I loved that truck. And so did Fury. In fact, "truck" was one of the first words he could say. And soon after that, my truck became "Dada Truck."
Dada Truck gave me purpose...
One day, d wife asked "what are you gonna do with a truck that big anyway?"
"Haul dirt."
"Uh, excuse me?"
"Haul dirt. That's what you do with a truck. I'm gonna find some dirt and haul it."
And so I did.
Along with my future backyard...
And some other cool things like granite countertops, demolition debris, IKEA sale items, Xmas trees, office furniture (for 3 bosses at 3 jobs - never let your boss know you have a truck), spinner bikes, boxes of live fish and ludicrously large fishtanks:
That's a 125-gallon tank we drove 500 miles to give to d Wife's cousin
Dada Truck had personality...
A man wears his heart on his truck. Dada Truck was a billboard of all the things that were important to me. Back then, my passion in life was Muay Thai. Big ass trucks and fight teams go hand-in-hand. Probably because there's a huge window where you can display your team pride (cool, I just checked their website and I'm still on their homepage if you wanna play "Where's BD?"):
For the love of Team, Dog and CountryI also quite liked this bumper sticker I picked up in Nashville, though it was never an effective deterrent:
And my favorite accessory? The antenna ball Fury made me one Father's Day years ago:
Dada Truck had a bright future...
Before long, Dada Truck was paid off. Which meant it had pretty much earned tenure in our driveway. True, I've since bought a more practical daily driver and I don't really need it, but do you keep something around solely because you need it? Seven years have gone by since the day I drove off the lot thinking "Jim, you are crazy for buying this," and despite $120 fill-ups during the worst of the gas crisis and inability to park in urban areas, I still sigh when we pull into the driveway in our other cars, turn to d wife and say "if I had all the money in the world and could get any car on the planet, I'd still pick that one."
This truck was my excuse to ask for a Bass Boat every year for Christmas. This truck was going to take Fury and me into the wilderness on camping adventures involving mud. This truck was going to make me feel better about Fury being on the road as a newly licensed driver at 16. This truck was about good things to come.
Dada Truck is worth $12,000 in the Kelley Blue Book...
But parenthood isn't all about fun and games. It's about giving your child everything in your power to give. And this year, it was about accepting the fact that Fury is not going to blossom in the public school system. Although we missed the application deadline to get him into a local private school for September, we tried anyway. And he got the tour, loved it, took the test, got accepted, got waitlisted for the next available spot, crossed his fingers, got the OK and got very, very ecstatic. What did I get? A bill. For $927. Payable every month. Starting right now.
We never really did think about that part.
And I can't really go to my boss and ask for a $11,124 raise.
I guess in the big picture of Fury's life, the Dada Truck is still about good things to come. But I'm still gonna miss the hell out of it.
Reader Comments (47)
Dada Truck is going on to serve his purpose. To make dada a bad ass, even if that is by giving it up.
My husband was rear-ended by a semi in car. The amount of glass in the backseat of the car made me weak at the thought of if my son had actually been in there.
I loved that car.
None of that ties in here, you just made me think about it.
That car was straight ninja.
That was a helluva deal and an awesome truck.
awwww
*sniff* when Nate wakes up, I'm sharing this with him.
You HAVE NOT changed a bit.
Damn you. I'm getting weepy over a truck. A TRUCK!
You forgot the best pic tho. The "find Fury pic" where he's all tiny next to that beast of a truck.
I hope its next owner loves it as much as you and Fury did!
wow... I actually got a little teary reading this...
But then, I've always been a truck girl myself...
Damn you for being a man and looking better now than you did then! (Yes, I'm completely superficial like that, but not in a way that I give a shit about your truck. So there.)
Awwww...that last picture is adorable..and hilarious.
We didn't have a truck for a few years and missed it A LOT. Hubby now has a Dodge Ram something or other and I really don't think we will ever live without a truck again. I mean, not to make you miss your truck. It's all good. It's for Fury!!
Ok, leaving now ;)
Ahhhh. In our world, Dada Truck is called the Penis Truck (compensation issues, you know...). It's his comfort when we fight, his companion on his daily commute, and the workhorse that tows a multitude of landscaping materials. It hauled our fifth wheel trailer, our ATV trailer and a half dozen rental trailers over the years. However, even though it is worth $15,000 via KBB (7 years old and 165,000 miles, but "it's a diesel, hon. It will last forever!"), it will probably grow old with us. Like Dada Truck, it's a member of the family.
Dude, those then-and-now photos just killed me.
Are you kidding me? I barely MAKE that much in a month, much less could I afford that kind of $$ for school even if I did. So I think it serves you right that you have to give up the truck. Nah nah nah nah. In all seriousness, though, I really hope that the private school will give Fury all that he needs; I hope that it is a positive experience for all of you, in fact. And I think you are a kick-ass dad for making the sacrifices you need to make in order to make sure he gets what he needs. :)
It's times like these when you're searching for just the right words to say that you have to reach back for the classics. So, in the sage words of David Bowie........."Ch-, Ch-, Ch-, Ch-, Ch- Changes!" We all make 'em, we all sacrifice something or other for them, you know? And look at the guilt trip you're gonna be able to lay on that kid later in life! (just kidding, how could you guilt-trip a face like that??)
Awww - the sacrifices we make for our kids *sigh*
Wanna know something funny? Don't hate me. My husband is selling his Chevy Sillverado 2500 which he got for $1 from the company that laid him off last year...long story. Same color as yours.
Anyhow, he's not all sad about it b/c his new company is a biofuel startup and he's going to be driving a big red diesel dually that also runs on Veggie Oil. Way cool.
I hate that bill. Try two kids.
It sucks.
But before you get rid of it, can you help me move just one little thing?
AWww it was like Fury and the truck grew up together. It's all for a good cause.
I get so attached to cars. I cried, CRIED when I left my big ass Expedition behind....driving a brand new Lexus. Which annoyed the hell out of Tony.
Oh, poor truck... but yes, priorities. Hubby has a truck, and he is constantly being called to help someone move, haul stuff, etc. He needs one of those bumper stickers....
Sad for you BD.
One of these days your son will look back over a very successful school career.....after he's gone to a really good college because of the successful school career...and he's gonna realize what you did for him. In the beginning. Then he is going to go out and buy you the BIGGEST BADDEST THANKS FOR EVERYTHING DAD TRUCK YOU EVER DID SEE!!! And life will come full circle once again. :)
You my friend are a rockin awesome dad!
dawn
I have soooo been there! BTW...what are you going to sell to pay for the next year? And the year after that...and the year after that...I could keep going here...lol
I had a pick up for a while. I didn't get around to buy sandbags, so during winter I didn't pay attention to stop signs or traffic lights. Instead I was just cruising on the ice with my eyes closed. But I do miss it.
Awwwwww! That was actually really sad!! Poor Dada truck. Freakin private schools...
Love the pics with you holding him...
It's truly been the Dada Truck. Have you ever read The Giving Tree? It reminds me of this truck.
Very touching piece, Jim, and this shows the real dad in you.
I hope Fury's new adventures are wonderful. Feel free to write me off sight if you want to discuss school issues - as someone with 28 years teaching experience, experience in public schools, private schools and international schools, and a creative, bright boy who didn't thrive in public schools either (but now does, btw), I have some, cough, cough, "experience" in this area.
The truck that keeps on giving.
Aww that was a cute post. And I liked the pics at the end with baby Fury and then going to expensive school Fury.
Great post. How did you get Fury to go along with holding him for the last photo? :0)
The good news is that, in all likelihood, if you read the handbook for Fury's new school, there will be a paragraph in there that specifically states that parents of students are not permitted to drive trucks anyway, as they are unsightly and "degrade the image of refinement and privilege that this organization has worked so diligently to establish."
I had to buy a Mercedes station wagon to even be allowed on my daughter's campus. And I have to wear Juicy Couture sweatpants when I drop her off. :)
Aw. No more DaDa Truck :(
But you gotta do what you gotta do.
Snnnffff. Breaks my heart to hear you had to give up your truck. Of course it has always borke my heart to give up all my trucks throughout the years. Luckily I bought a new Tacoma in 2007. But I miss my big Ford P/U. Bwaaahaaahaaaa! Sniff.
My husband sold his beloved '68 Cougar after the twins was born. He swears he doesn't regret it. I don't believe him. And I know he'd do it all over again.
*sadface*
I'm gonna have to find a way around the USPS and send you whiskey. Good whiskey. Big hugs to you, my friend. That is a bummer, but an incredible parenting move. You should be proud!
AW! So sad!!!! yes, and this is from your hyrbrid driving sis :( That monster truck definitely had character and I got so used to seeing it. It's so wierd to see you driving in a small car haha! Fury is too cute in those pics. Fine, just for you, I'll gun it a few times on my car and rev until you can hear a sound from the engine. Drat....and I was going to recruit you for my next move.
Wait, so what you going to sell when he gets into Milton? :(
Truck for sale huh? Well... it did it's job while it lasted?
As for school.. whoa. Yeah.. $900 a MONTH.. enjoy that too! :)
I sent my Silverado (a one year-old 1500) packing a couple years ago to fund our family's get out of debt plan. It was painful, but the process cured me forever! I now drive a 19 year-old P.O.S. van back and forth to work, but we don't owe a dime of "car debt!"
Funny how you can fall in love with a car. Also, I'm very glad to know I'm not the only one that donated an ailing BMW to charity. Everyone told me I was nuts for doing it. They were right.
Love the recreated pictures
Is it silly that you have me blinking back tears? Fury will remember this and thank you for it one day. I'm sorry you had to get rid of your Dada Truck, it's beautiful. My bf has a long bed, crew cab F250 that I absolutely love too. We take it out to the desert. Maybe you'll be able to get another Dada Truck in the future. The sacrifices parents make truly amaze and humble me. This post made me all melty. Have a great weekend!
Dude, for the following year, I bet you can sell all the fishtanks left over from "Fill My Tank" or whatever that place was called to pay the fees. But you've got it backwards. You should sell the tanks first because then you could charge EXTRA to deliver them, which you will NOT be able to do once the truck is gone. Unless you are such a seriously strong guy that you can carry the darn things down the 405.
For those about to rock, we salute you.
PS: Best bumper sticker of all time.
It's funny, as soon as I saw that truck I was thinking "man, if Jim weren't thousands of miles away, we certainly could have used his help/awesome truck to move stuff... and then I saw that hilarious bumper sticker!
I loved this post, Jim. It speaks to the essence of parenthood. And it's wonderful that Fury got to be a part of your truck experience as well. A poignant post about a truck, who woulda thunk?
I'm sure Fury will thrive in his new school. One of his best friends switched into private last year and is loving it.
I meant one of my boy's best friends, shouldn't comment before coffee!
Please don't buy a mini-van, or your dada truck will track you down and honk its horn into your bedroom window for the rest of time.
Nice post.
Great Blog my friend! Keep up the good work from a fellow fumbling dad.
I absolutely love that bumper sticker.
And you're comment about never letting your boss know you have a truck couldn't be better advice.
Dear Jim,
Your story brought me back to your Milton days. Since mom and dad were convinced that education was the biggest investment for you and Mei, we tighted our belt to send you both to Milton. Back in those days, York Stake House (a buffet style chain) on Rt. 1 was our family 's best possible restaurant choice once in a while.
I am very proud of you for making the same kind of decision for Fury.
Lot's of love to you all!
mom
This post was an ode, but not to your truck as much as to the KICKASS Dad you so totally are.
I did sorta tear up thinking about you having to cruise around SoCal listening to country music in anything other than a truck though, that's harsh.
Excellent post, BD !
Now I'm getting wistful about my Chrysler LeBaron convertible. Ah, memories... glad you had some good ones with Fury and that truck.
Memories with your kids are the best ones. And when he's older and feeling himself a little too much, just remind him!
I love the story. But one word of advice from a single Mom of two college educated children. Save the money on his elemetary education (homeschool him) I have one graduated from Cornell, one from Harvard put the money into his college fund. Homeschool until about 8th grade then find a great school district send him to school and use the college fund when needed. Make Dada truck count!
Good thing you got rid of it before your kid turned 16.... New drivers + big trucks = more dumb driving maneuvers than you can ever imagine.
One thing sticks out in my mind more than any other: A poor S2000 that I saw, the guy's car had it's entire front end demolished. The cause? A teenager in a giant truck who turned right into the S2000. The kid "didn't see him there."
In my own opinion, a kid needs a car like my first one, a Del Sol. Something so tiny on the road that it makes them appreciate the art of defensive driving, not the "mine is bigger so if I want to be there, I get the spot and your little car can't do anything about it" mentality.
Now that I'm done with my soapbox moment.... (Had to vent, my own S2k just got hit pretty hard by a truck a couple of weeks ago. It's a sore subject for me. I also drive a tiny car and put up with attitudes a LOT.)
Grats on parting with the "toy." Best thing about toys is there's always another one to get somewhere. :)
Awesome post Jim. I'm going to miss driving up to your house and seeing the truck parked in the driveway......and that truck usually took up the ENTIRE drive way! The pictures at the end are awesome too...the funny thing is that in a few years you won't be able to hold Fury up in the air like that...and most likely it'll be Fury doing the lifting. LOL!
-B
Those 'photo comparisons' are awesome!