The Ford and the Flood

The monumental flooding in Louisiana prompted this memory of my grandparents in the 1920s. In no way does my humorous approach to this family story diminish the devastating losses to the affected residents of Louisiana. Instead may we be prompted to pray and give to organizations that are actively providing relief and ongoing support in this ravaged region of our nation.
The Flood and the Ford

                As with many families in the 1920s, my maternal grandparents bought a used Model T Ford for their first car. My mother, Bernyce Smith Gates, described the car as a buggy with a motor. As she told about their first vehicle, I imagined its size was similar to the buggy my paternal grandmother had used to cross the swollen creek. The efficient, small Model T had a gas engine. In contrast, the strength of Old Fancy, the reliable horse, pulled Grandma Gates to safety. To read about Old Fancy’s prowess and Grandma’s determination, access the posting at: http://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/07/she-wouldnt-turn-around-or-wait.html 

Henry Ford’s affordable car owned by Mother’s family featured a roof, windshield, and two doors, but no window glasses were in the doors. The wind and rain could readily come in on the driver and the passengers. Mother said my grandpa, Calvin Callcayah Smith, characterized its tires, “about like bicycle tires.” To her astonishment, she and her parents traveled innumerable miles in that car on those tiny tires! To access another posting about this same little car, see: https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/12/ralstons-tie-with-founding-of-oklahoma.html

A Ford Model T Advertisement from 1924. It was priced at $265. Their Model T
                       seemed smaller and not as flashy, according to Mother's memory. Of course,
       Grandpa bought theirs used.  Mother recalled it was sold for $7!
           From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Grandpa drove a team of horses pulling a buggy or a wagon until he was at least 30 years old. So driving a motorized car provided a fun adventure each time he got behind the wheel. Angie, my sister, and I recounted his driving protocol. He first donned his leather driving gloves. Then he spit on his gloved hands – maybe hearkening back to his pitching days in baseball. Finally, we were ready to take off.

Grandpa liked to drive fast. One day he picked up a man who frequently hitchhiked to Ralston. Following a ride with Grandpa driving his black Dodge pickup (a later vehicle he owned), the obviously shaken man was heard to exclaim as he escaped from Grandpa’s pickup, “That old man’ll kill you!”

As we laughed over our memories of Grandpa’s driving, I said, “Remember,  Mom, that Marilyn (the younger cousin who had lived with them for a time) would always brace herself on the dashboard and say, “Uncle Cull, I’m ready for a crash landing!” Marilyn loved the riding excursions each day to Belford Grade School. (To read more about Marilyn Rainey’s time with my grandparents, access at: http://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2014/11/when-little-brown-eyed-durgan-lived.html  )

Mother remembered one time, as a preschooler, when the Arkansas River flowed angrily out of its banks. Anyone who lived in the north central area of Oklahoma, prior to the construction of the Kaw Dam, vividly recalled those days when schools were cancelled due to flooded bus routes, endangered homes in the river bottom were evacuated, and stranded livestock demanded courageous rescues.

Mother and her parents planned a shopping trip to Fairfax by way of Ralston. They crossed the Ralston Bridge spanning the flooded Arkansas River. Of course, the river was swirling in the river bottom east of the bridge, lapping the shoulder of the dirt road. That dirt road is now Highway 18. Grandpa drove slowly as they rounded the curve and headed north to Fairfax.

The Smith family made their purchases in Fairfax, loaded them into the Model T Ford, hopped in themselves, and headed south. No one will know what possessed Grandpa to amp his speed – maybe it was the anticipation to get back to the Big Bend or perhaps it was just to get Grandma, Gladys Rainey Smith, a little riled. Well, if getting a rise out of Grandma was his intent; let’s just say, according to Mother, he nailed it!

The tiny Model T driven by my fun-loving grandpa approached what is now the junction of Highway 18 and Highway 20. Grandpa had the Model T humming a little faster on their return trip. Grandma cautioned, “Slow down, Cull! We have this little girl in here.”

Grandpa chuckled and held his speed steady as he prepared to round the curve. Grandma’s anger flashed, sparks flew, and before anyone knew what had happened, Grandma grabbed the key out of the ignition and flung it into the muddy Arkansas River, churning just feet away from the vulnerable Model T! The puttering motor stalled and died.  All was quiet except the fury of the massive body of water seething with the sickening odor reeking from the murky boil. Grandpa exited the early-day car in silence and started walking toward the Ralston River Bridge, making his way into Ralston.

As my father would say about Mother in crises, “She just sits quiet.” Even though she was not school age yet, that is exactly what she did. To my amazement, Mother said my grandmother said nothing either. My grandmother who had an incredible mind may have been questioning why she jerked the key and threw it or probably Why was Cull driving like a fool?  Fear and trepidation must have permeated her thoughts as she sat that closely to the swollen river with her only little girl.

Grandpa eventually returned with a "universal" Ford key obtained from O.J. Cales' Ford Garage (Bob Hopper had a feed store there in more recent history) just north of the bridge in east Ralston, started the engine, and the three of them were on their way. At age 91, Mother still remembers seeing the key fly into the flooded river.

My mother reminded me that my grandparents were not Christians at that time. Grandma was a spitfire in terms of her temper. After accepting Jesus, she learned to rely on Him to help her control it. However, she was aware of its explosiveness and its destructive ramifications in the lives of her loved ones. Mother said the incident showed the necessity  for people to think about the consequences of their behavior before doing something rash.

My mother dearly adored her father.  He never crossed her in word or deed during any time of her life.* Yet Mother said her father should have listened to Grandma’s fear of the raging river and slowed down, showing his mindfulness of her concern.

Just as being born into the world is an instantaneous event, so is coming into God’s family through trust in Jesus. On the other hand, growing and learning is a ever-changing journey in our physical lives after our birth, so is growing in the knowledge of who Jesus is and wants to be in our spiritual lives. May our desire be to honor Him in our “thought-through” actions,  as well as our sensitivity of others. In this way, we can be assured to positively impact the lives of those around us.

*Grandma always said Grandpa never corrected Mother. Grandma said when Mother was quite small, she cried because she didn't want them to spend the night at Grandma Rainey's house. Grandpa placed her in the Model T Ford and drove around "the square" until Mother drifted off!  Then he carried her back into Grandma Rainey's home and spent the night there.