Christmas caroling with 50 neighbors in the back of the Deuce

[dessertrat]

Back in December, we arranged with our neighbors to go around caroling to some of the folks in the neighborhood who may be lonely or otherwise having a hard time. We ended up having 50 people in the back (51 if you include one in utero), plus me and a good old fella in the cab. A few people were standing, lots of kids huddled in blankets on the floor. It was packed. I decorated the sides with garland and ribbons, lights all over the bows, had a big wreath attached to the radiator and winch, and had a smaller wreath held by the pintle hitch. It was a good time and something we hope to keep doing as a neighborhood tradition for as long as I can keep her running. We have a lot of good people in the neighborhood who aren't afraid to have real experiences with real people. Helping re-establish community in this world of isolation is one of the many things I hoped to do with this exquisite piece of machinery and history.

There was one moment when a car driven by some clueless young buck and full of his buddies did not stop at a stop sign and pulled out in front of us. Between the headlights, markers, and all the Christmas lights everywhere, plus a multifuel whistler turbo in the mode of acceleration, it's not like we were hard to see or hear. Both the horn and the brakes worked perfectly, plus we were probably only going 20mph at the time as it's residential and I was accelerating from a stop anyway, so ultimately we avoided catastrophe. Some people out back lurched forward and got minor bumps, but nothing a kiss from mama wouldn't cure. The good ol fella in the cab rolled down the window and gave the kid a waggling finger of scorn as we resumed and drove past him. For the sake of the other driver, his passengers, and everyone on the road he endangers on a daily basis, hopefully the image of a giant military truck bearing down and about to turn him into a greasy spot on the road was a lesson he won't soon forget, though with the state of drivers in this postmodern age, I don't hold out much hope for that. The fact that I remember clearly seeing his face glowing in the dark indicates screen addiction. Go figure.

In spite of that, it was a magical Christmastime night. I have plans for more decorations next year, but first I need to get ready for the 250th Independence Day. What better kind of parade to have as my first?

 

[Mullaney]

Back in December, we arranged with our neighbors to go around caroling to some of the folks in the neighborhood who may be lonely or otherwise having a hard time. We ended up having 50 people in the back (51 if you include one in utero), plus me and a good old fella in the cab. A few people were standing, lots of kids huddled in blankets on the floor. It was packed. I decorated the sides with garland and ribbons, lights all over the bows, had a big wreath attached to the radiator and winch, and had a smaller wreath held by the pintle hitch. It was a good time and something we hope to keep doing as a neighborhood tradition for as long as I can keep her running. We have a lot of good people in the neighborhood who aren't afraid to have real experiences with real people. Helping re-establish community in this world of isolation is one of the many things I hoped to do with this exquisite piece of machinery and history.

There was one moment when a car driven by some clueless young buck and full of his buddies did not stop at a stop sign and pulled out in front of us. Between the headlights, markers, and all the Christmas lights everywhere, plus a multifuel whistler turbo in the mode of acceleration, it's not like we were hard to see or hear. Both the horn and the brakes worked perfectly, plus we were probably only going 20mph at the time as it's residential and I was accelerating from a stop anyway, so ultimately we avoided catastrophe. Some people out back lurched forward and got minor bumps, but nothing a kiss from mama wouldn't cure. The good ol fella in the cab rolled down the window and gave the kid a waggling finger of scorn as we resumed and drove past him. For the sake of the other driver, his passengers, and everyone on the road he endangers on a daily basis, hopefully the image of a giant military truck bearing down and about to turn the him into a greasy spot on the road was a lesson he won't soon forget, though with the state of drivers in this postmodern age, I don't hold out much hope for that. The fact that I remember clearly seeing his face glowing in the dark indicates screen addiction. Go figure.

In spite of that, it was a magical Christmastime night. I have plans for more decorations next year, but first I need to get ready for the 250th Independence Day. What better kind of parade to have as my first?

.
Wow!

That was a heck of a story...
Glad that the kid got away with only his ego bruised.
Yes sir, community is a good thing!

 

[Capt Pat]

GREAT opportunity, we The FIRELANDS MILITARY VEHICLE GROUP here in Ohio regularly send a deuce or 5 ton we have to a Naval Sea Cadet unit we sponsor, WOLVERINE Division up in Monroe Michigan for them to use in Christmas parades like the BIG one over in Ida Mich. (swells the town population like eight times normal) The Cadets (kids) and the parents that participate too LOVE it. They sing and wave and just enjoy the season, they work all afternoon decorating, getting the genset onboard and all. THEN they make sure the chase car and truck carrying their Color Guard ALSO has the hot cocoa and cups onboard.