By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
If you are feeling down, do something you love doing to perk you up. So I opted to write something about cars which is ironic as we are suffering due to shortage of gasoline and diesel caused by US President Trump’s war in the Middle East.
Likewise, this is ironic as I have not driven a vehicle for more than three years already due to heart and kidney failure three years ago. As I told the nephew of my wife a few days ago, its good you inquired about an old classic 1963 Chevrolet Impala. It initiated an animated discussion about beautiful classic old cars as it brought to the surface a deep interest from him. It turned out his interest in that particular model was ignited by foreign magazine pictures he chanced upon several years back.
He never knew I had one before that I gave away for a song. He was so aghast when he found that out especially that he could have had it for just a lousy song. It ws so near and yet now so far. We don’t know if we can get it back for him but young as he is, I told him, “Concentrate on your engineering board exam this year, and after that, work to earn money so we could chase your dream car.” Sure the car is a beauty that, if fully restored, could put to shame a brand new luxury car. But the cost of restoration does not come cheap. It can only happen at a premium. Most if not all the restoration parts would have to be imported from the US.
My other old cars that can be good restoration projects he can choose from would be even worse as these are of a German marque so restoration parts would be at real premium prices. But they perform very well and they last for a long time if properly cared for. As one writer said, you don’t actually own such cars. You only care for them and hold them in trust for the next generation. Perhaps.
While car restoration is admittedly expensive, it is a lot cheaper than getting into vices and other similar useless activities. Then there is the immeasurable enjoyment you get from undertaking such an endeavor. Sorry, that cannot be bought, more so if it becomes your stress buster during weekends or every other midweek.
Yes, it can assure you of a healthy living or lifestyle. While I cannot give you solid statistics right now to prove that, I am sure a lot of lives were saved by hobbies that make people move and exert effort instead of being sedentary.**
