From coupes to convertibles ... it's cruisin' time again.

I just switched off the news halfway through the weather report, because once again Mother Nature threatens to wreak havoc with our weekend – that is … if the bad weather happens as the prognosticators say it will. This week several times the predicted showers and storms didn’t happen – that’s fine by me. But how can they all be wrong? When the bad weather doesn’t materialize, the weather folks blame it on the models. I think Mother Nature just doesn’t like people stating her intentions and trying to read her mind. I know that tomorrow’s all-day rain will put a kibosh on Cruisin’ Downriver, and I was looking forward to the congregation of 200+ classic mustangs at Memorial Park. Owners of classic cars aren’t fond of dragging their babies out in the inclement weather and there sure isn’t an umbrella big enough for a convertible.

I decided to walk along Fort Street this morning and see if any cruisers were out already. Since our local cruise began in 1999, the classic cars are out and about as early as Thursday evening, and on Friday, the day before the actual cruise, there is always a trickle of classic cars because their owners simply can’t wait another day to strut their stuff.

I passed one lime-green Mustang, circa 1965, as it looped around the cruise route, and I couldn’t help but scratch my head over the bright color … obviously not the “real deal”. Just as someone looks at a blonde woman and wonders if her hair color is natural or from a bottle, I wondered about the original color versus the Earl Scheib $99.95 paint job. Back in the day, a good friend owned the same model car. She bought it used and it was the ugliest pale green color, so she saved her money and got it painted powder blue at Earl Scheib. In just one day that pitiful little car got pizazz with a capital “P”. Well, we thought we were pretty cool riding around in it, windows rolled down, wearing our dark sunglasses pushed up on our heads like a headband and letting the wind blow through our long locks. I loved my VW Bug, but it was not as exciting as that sporty little ‘stang.

I kept walking ‘til I reached Yum Yum Donuts, knowing that this busy corner retreat was the donut shop version of the man cave. This sweet spot is always a favorite hangout during the cruise where drivers go to refuel with a cup or two of Joe while their car engines cool off a bit. Most of the drivers are talking “shop” and sipping and swiveling on the stools at the same time, to ensure no one is messin’ with their wheels. The Mustang was a no show but how about this old timer you see above?

Radio station WOMC 104.3 and Channel 7 banners are lined up and down Fort Street and the police have put up the no parking signs already.

So, everyone is all ready and rarin’ to go, that is … as long as Mother Nature cooperates.

You can catch up on my blog posts before I started blogging at Patch in August 2013 by going here: http://lindaschaubblog.net/