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Clunkers I have known or owned
Liberty lore
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Recently, we all heard in the news about turning in your old “clunker” for cash when you buy a new car that gets more miles to the gallon. Then the old clunkers had to be crushed!
Thinking back over my years, I can recall some old clunkers we owned. Furthermore, I recall when the only mode of transportation we had was “Old Maude,” our horse, and she was certainly not a clunker. A few people had cars when I was very young, and they were the richer folks.
A favorite passtime for us in the early 1950s was for mama to go with us seven children to the front of St. Thomas’ church. We’d sit in the grass and watch the cars and trucks pass on Highway 301. We took turns pretending the next one that came by would be ours. We made up stories about the people traveling in the cars, where they were going and what big trucks were hauling. However, of all the cars and trucks that passed, we never saw a one that looked like any my daddy owned. He always managed to nab some very unique automobiles.
The first automobile I remember daddy buying was an old black Model A with two seats. He had to crank it and hurry to get it going before the engine shut off. Many times, we all had to get behind the car and push it to get it cranked. Then we’d hurry and pile in. Occasionally, daddy had to spread the roof of the car with thick black tar to keep it from leaking when it rained. After he finished with the tar, we all jumped in the car and went visiting. He especially liked going over to my Uncle Hamp’s and calling him out to the car. Naturally, Uncle Hamp propped his hand on top of the car, which is just what daddy expected. They’d exchange a few choice words when my uncle tried to pry his hands from the car’s roof.
In 1952, Daddy bought a tiny Model A Roadster from our neighbor, Crosby Jenkins.  It was a beautiful little car with a white convertible canvas top, a black bottom and just one seat. Daddy took the trunk lid off and put a tire in the trunk for us children to sit on when we went riding.  The baby sat in Mama’s lap. It was a good thing seat belts were not required when I was five years old.
But of all the unique automobiles daddy managed to find, the 1954 Model A with the baby blue checkerboard painted on each front door was the best. Everyone in Long and Tattnall counties recognized the car as ours. I was in grammar school at the time and was teased mercilessly by the other children about playing checkers on the car. My bother Tommy believed the car must have once belonged to the Purina Seed and Feed Store in Glennville, which would have accounted for the checkerboard design.
By the time I was a senior in high school, daddy had advanced to a more modern automobile, a 1954 yellow and white Plymouth. It reminded me of an egg coming down the road. “Old Yellow” served him well for many years. Daddy never owned a new automobile in his lifetime, but he sure did find some one-of-a-kind rides.
When my children used to complain about being driven to school in my large Buick Electra, I told them stories about how I was embarrassed to ride in the trunk of my father’s tiny car.
In the 1990s, I bought a Lincoln Town Car, which may have been the best car I have ever driven. Talk about roominess! I finally sold it a few years ago, I certainly did not think of it as a clunker.
Isn’t it amazing how the things that embarrass us so much as children are funny to us when we’re older? I would be tickled to drive through town now in the little Roadster or the Model A with the blue checkerboards on the doors.
Those old cars may be referred to as “clunkers” now, but they were special to us and they certainly beat walking!
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Visit with children a real eye-opener
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One of my favorite activities as a state senator is when I get to speak to students at our local schools. This year, I spoke to third-grade students at May Howard Elementary and Marshpoint Elementary in Chatham County and Button Gwinnett Elementary in Liberty County.
The students from each of the schools had been studying civics and were familiar with the three branches of government — executive, judicial and legislative. I explained my role as a senator in the legislative process and told the children how the citizen legislature in the state of Georgia works.
Presenting each of the schools with a Georgia state flag, I explained the three principles for which the state flag stands — wisdom, justice and moderation — and had them recite the pledge to the flag with me. 
The students at all three schools were bright, respectful and well-disciplined — a tribute to their families and especially to their teachers, who had prepared the students for my visit with ideas for great questions.
The students in Ms. Hutchinson’s class at Marshpoint Elementary were impressive in singing the preamble to the Constitution during my visit. What a great way to learn such an important part of our nation’s history — another wonderful example of the great job our teachers are doing.
I was delighted last week to receive thank-you letters from some of the students. Here are excerpts from a few of their letters:
 
Dear Mr. Carter,
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come speak to us. I learned so much! I learned that there are two kinds of Pledge of Allegiances. That is pretty cool.
Do you travel all over the world do you? I really like that you taught me more about the three branches of government.
— Megan
 
Dear Sen. Carter,
Thank you for telling us about your job and your favorite thing about your job. I liked the Georgia state flag. I still have more questions. Do you have to work on Saturday and Sunday? Are you the only one who makes the laws?
Yours truly,
Ryleigh 


Dear Sen. Buddy Carter,
Thank you for coming and letting us have a little bit of your time. I want you to know that I learned something new. The Georgia pledge! Justice, wisdom and modesty! Thanks again!
— Liam
 
Dear Sen. Buddy Carter,
Thank you for coming and helping us learn more about the government and some of your job. Thank you for giving us a Georgia flag. It was fun when you came. Thank you for giving us some questions so we could answer them.
P.S. Did you ride in a limousine? I was going to ask you a question but then I forgot. But now I remember. How many rooms are there where you work? You can send me a note if you can.
Your friend,
Erin
 
I’m uncertain whether the students learned as much from me during my visit as I learned from them. One thing that I was reminded of was the honesty that comes from the innocence of childhood. I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret some of the questions, such as the one asked in this letter:
 
Dear Sen. Carter,
I loved your speech. Thanks for coming to our school. I think my favorite part was when we held the flag. It was so fun! I have a question: How many people voted for you?
Sincerely,
Shelly
 
I also was more than a little concerned about a recurring question in the thank-you notes that was posed to me during one of my visits by a beautiful, brown-eyed girl who, with a very serious look on her face, asked “Did you ever get re-elected be-fore?”


What a great group of young people! My faith and hope in our future has been reassured. What an amazing job our families and teachers are doing on a daily basis to support and encourage our next generation. Thank you for your dedication to teaching our leaders of tomor-row.

Sen. Buddy Carter can be reached at Coverdell Legislative Office Building (C.L.O.B.) Room 301-A, Atlanta, GA, 30334. His Capitol office number is 404-656-5109

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