Why my parents let me buy that old Jeep CJ5, no one can tell. It was jacked up, red, loud, and proud! The old girl had a V8 with a 3/4 racing cam that would sit and idle like a race car. The Jeep had a suspension lift that was at least 4 inches above 33x22x12.50s that were mounted. When you gave it all the it had, the Front tires would jump off the ground and not touch back soon enough. I of course loved the jeep. I kept the top off and called it some type of hunting vehicle even though it was all toy.
Well, I had just put an investment of brand new grip tires on the Jeep. I had a date that evening but my buddy Matt Parker wanted us to ride out to Pigeon creek before I went into town. It was raining that Saturday afternoon so we decided to head down the long dirt road to have a little fun. We went down to the creek. We took opportunities to hit about any mud hole that we could find. Things were going good! Parker even brought along a couple of beverages and we were enjoying ourselves.
Picture it. There was a nice summer thundershower that was about to be over. We had a couple of drinks (I understand that's its wrong to drink n drive, but I was young and dumb.). We were laughing and talking to each other. We came into downtown Forest Home Alabama, that's a joke in and of its own if you know anything of the spot in the road. As I came near the intersection to turn right toward my house, I pressed the brake. Little did I know that one of the front tires had no brakes and the other brake was locking up. With a new set of grip tires and a nice wet road, the jacked up Jeep started to slide and was trying to flip over. I was about to run into a house right next to road, so I jerked the wheel in the opposite direction. I remember sliding and the next thing I saw the Forest Home Post Office. I barely missed it in my slide and then saw a propane tank. We missed that tank by inches as we screamed, cursed, and cried. You should have seen Matt Parker's eyes during and after.
It was over. Matt said" WHAT DID YOU DO?" I said " @#$%@#$, WE ARE ALIVE!" We quickly jumped back into the jeep and gave it gas. We put mud all over the Post office and made huge ruts getting out of the yard.
Well, my date wasn't too happy with me being late. Matt went home and cleaned out his britches, ha ha. The old Jeep was soon to have a new brake job. What a crazy day and dumb things I did when I was younger however they are memories. The old red CJ5 is now only a memory. Matthew and I are still friends but don't see each other that much. I am sure this memory crosses Matt's mind every once in a while crosses even if its a night mare and followed by cold sweets.
