A Story

She asked him not to design the house--he's an architect--because she knew it would be big and grand, and she thought she could be happy with something small, a house with no upstairs because her rheumatoid arthritis makes going upstairs difficult. She could be happy with a small mortgage, too, and knew that if he designed the house a small mortgage would not happen.

He designed the house anyway. I suppose because he knew this would be their last house, and he wanted it to be the way he wanted it. He put their bedroom on the ground floor.

It is a wonderful house, big and beautiful inside and out. You could see it if you drove out Boise Avenue and looked for Talavera Way.

And, yes, it had a huge mortgage.

Until last month.

Last month changed a lot of things. That's because of his beautiful, in perfect condition and driveable antique 1909 White (the name, not the color; it was actually green) steam car. I saw the car. A big open limousine, really a wonderful car. Something he was nearly as proud of as he was of the house.

But he sold it. To Jay Leno. Jay Leno really wanted it, and after a few telephone conversations--"call me Jay, please"--Jay asked what he wanted for it. And he told Jay. That--what he wanted for it--is exactly what Jay paid. And happily. He has called several times since to talk about the car, and he has driven it, like at 60 mph--too fast for a steam car--and broken the throttle. No problem, though. Jay Leno has 150 antique cars and several mechanics to keep them fixed.

She didn't tell me how much money it was, but she did say this. "We paid off our mortgage; we've helped our kids (all three and their families); he's on his way back now with a new antique car, which cost $65,000." And, she said, "We have some money now. We could travel."

The new old car? 1911 Hudson.

Hmm. We had Hudsons when I was about 15. Two of them, both 1952. Kind of wish I had one of them now.

Actually, I've been online looking at 1911 Hudsons, and I'd just as soon have one of those. Beautiful.