"My Corvette Story" is a long and winding road that started with my recently passed father.  His story started with the purchase of his first Corvette, a 1961 Honduras Maroon with White cove.  Fresh out of college, in his first job, at General Mills, it must have been amazing!  Not long after, he traded up for a brand new, 1964 Silver Blue model.  A few years later, traded again for a new 1966 Laguna Blue model, in time for his September 1966 wedding to my mother.  They tell the story that they hid the Vette at the local veterinarian's farm (away from the church)  during the wedding to protect it from my mother's practical joker of an uncle.  They were afraid he would decorate it as was the custom at weddings back in the day.  Then came the 1969 Riverside Gold with Black interior that I remember.  Oh how I loved the thrill I got when Dad would "floor it" ever so briefly on the highway, always without warning.  And then came the sad day when he sold it.  Supposedly because the parents wanted to buy property and build a cabin, but I of course, blame the little sister that came four and a half years after me... Corvettes aren't much of a family car.

Over the years, Dad fostered my love of Corvettes as we admired them from afar on the road and at car shows.  I even passed it on to my own children, teaching them to spot them during our travels and errands. I was happy to hear that after Dad retired, he was able to purchase the current Corvette, a 1979 Black with Oyster Leather interior Stingray, with the L82 engine and manual transmission. He had it for 18 years before passing away this past October and I believe it brought him joy to have a Corvette again.  Even though he was able to retire in 2000, my mother was still working at a local high school and occaisionally drove it to work, parking it in the staff lot.  She had a picture displayed in her office of my then three year old son posing on his Big Wheel in front of Grandpa's Corvette.  One day a student came in the office and upon seeing the picture, exclaimed with great disbelief, "That's YOUR Corvette??!!!"  He couldn't imagine this "old" lady (near retirement) working in the guidance office was the driver/owner of the Corvette he'd seen in the parking lot.

That brings me to now, nine months after my dad's passing.  We are in the process of moving Mom closer to me and emptying out the house and garage... including the Corvette.  As much as I would love to keep it, to honor Dad's memory and to further my own love for Vettes, it is not in the cards for me right now.  That will have to be a personal goal for my future. I have very much enjoyed my recent in depth dive into the world of Corvettes as I prepare to sell my father's '79.  I am very much a novice and have much to learn. 

Some people say that seeing a cardinal in their yard or garden is a sign that a passed loved one is near.  For me, it will always be seeing a Corvette!