Northport Nostalgia: The Red Chevy Convertible

After sustaining heavy Northport losses in the recent days with the passing of Freddy Piercey and Big Bob Howard, "The Chief," I thought it would be nice to write about something short, sweet, and light.  I hope this fits the bill.

It was a cold day in January of '63 and my buddy pulled up in his brand new red Chevy convertible that he just purchased from William Pape Chevrolet in Huntington. They called it Huntington, but in reality I think it was Huntington Station or South Huntington as it was sometimes called.

Anyway, he said "c'mon, get in, let's cruise." I thought wow, this car is an awesome babe catcher! With the top down and the heater blasting we drove aimlessly back and forth between Northport and East Northport as Ruby and the Romantics sang "Our Day Will Come", interlaced with Skeeter Davis' "End of the World" on 1010 WINS, New York. I think they were the only two songs being played that month by New York disc jockeys, small wonder to an industry that was rampant with kick-back in what unraveled as DJ Alan Freed's fall from grace in congressional hearings.

Soon, the months would peel off the calendar and it would be May of 1963, just one month before graduation. Can anyone remember what it is like to be 17, in the spring of the year and only 30 days to go? Study anyone? Not for us... Along about second period, my buddy came by and once again invited me to go for a cruise. School? We don't need no stinkin' school! While most others were busy preparing for the finals, we made a beeline for the parking lot and down came the convertible top.

By this time, the Beach Boys were singing "Surfin Safari" and in the moment, it would not have mattered if we were to be caught, as long as it didn't happen until tomorrow. Mr. Fazio, if you are reading this please don't hold me for detention with 50 years of interest!

The rest of the day was a study in geography as we discovered places that we had never seen. We drove out to Nissiquogue and my buddy climbed the old wooden wind mill. I did not, as the stairs were rotted and broken and I was afraid that it was too dangerous. In reality, it was too dangerous, but we enjoyed the day just
the same. Little did I know that I would one day make a living inspecting buildings. Somehow, our absence from school never got recognized and we got away with the caper, Scott free. If Mr. Fazio does read this, maybe, just maybe he can find
a red Chevy convertible somewhere back there in his own past.

This vignette is one of those pleasant little departures with no need for a punchline. For those who saw the movie, Mr. Holland's Opus, they will know, that like Rock & Roll, it is not the quality or legitimacy of the music form. It's about the fun...a necessary ingredient in life that nurtures the soul! If I had the power to make it so, I would put a skip day and a red Chevy convertible in everyone's life.