American Graffiti

One of the more unusual places to catch a bit of history is while you're pumping gas. But there I was in Bolivar, Missouri when a shiny black and absolutely gorgeous vintage 1950 Plymouth pulls up next to me.

I throw the occupants an admiring glance. We talk. Turns out the couple are originally from California but now called Bolivar home. Get this, both occupants went to high school with George Lucas, the director of the wildly popular 1973 film American Graffiti. What are the chances?

Anyway I ask for permission to take some photos. No problem he says.

"They used to take pictures of me" she says, "but now all they want to do is take pictures of the car."

I focus my lens on her now. She tells me she's in her late '70s. I don't believe it, she's a a looker. She says her classmate George Lucas got the 60s generation spot on. The movie is an accurate study of the cruising and rock and roll cultures popular among the baby boom generation according to these two kids.

She invites me to join them for dinner and I sadly decline. She's kind and it's tempting, but I can tell the big guy she's married to loves her passionately and wouldn't like a stranger they just met to get anywhere near his spotless car, much less his beautiful woman.

I motor on with a big smile on my face.