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MP3 4.4 MB • 128 kbps • 4:50
Story behind the song
This little adventure began in August 2008 during a visit with friends to a weekend truck show in Carlisle, PA, where I started collecting 1:18 scale diecast model classic cars. In early September, I happened to ask my wife, Louise, if she had a favourite old car, and she immediately said a "1968 Dodge Polara 500, 4 door, blue". I asked her why, and she said it's because it was the last car her father owned at the time of his death on Nov. 30, 1968, and that her mother (who died in 1988) then learned to drive. To Louise, the Polara represented the freedom the family needed to get through the tragedy and begin healing. I asked her if she'd like me to find a model of one. She said "yes".
Well, after lots of searching the internet, no model is made, but mid-September, I stumbled on a real one located in Calgary, Alberta - about 3,000 miles west of my home town of Chelsea, Quebec (just outside of Ottawa, Ontario). That was when my little brain started working. After numerous email/photo exchanges with the seller (son of the original owner who died last year), unknown to Louise, I bought the car after having it checked out by a local Calgary mechanic who told me by phone that I was getting a "cherry deal". It's a 318 ci, only 70K miles on it. I had the car shipped by autotruck and it arrived on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at a local classic car restoration body and detailing shop that I had made pre-arrangements with. The only bit of rust was behind the rear wheels and new metal has been fabricated, with minimal painting in that area. Apart from that, it's all original, and everything works, even the heater and side marker lights. I picked it up Friday, Nov. 28, got a safety check (passed, no problem), registration, license and insurance. I also had old photos scanned of Louise's Dad (Gilles) and Mom (Rollande), placed it in a small plastic frame and affixed it to the dash (seen in the last pic).
I presented the car to Louise (again, totally unknown to her) on Sunday, Nov. 30 (the 40th anniversary of her father's death). This car is an exact duplicate, including colour, of the '68 Polara he owned at that time. I made arrangements to have the car sitting in the same driveway (at the old family home in downtown Ottawa) as the original Polara did. Our sons (and their girlfriends) and my parents were on-site, hiding, and armed with cameras for when Louise and I showed-up. Upon seeing the car (and especially the photos of her parents on the dash), Louise was an emotional wreck, but overjoyed!
We then drove to visit the cemetery to pay respects to Louise's parents (and other family members laid to rest there), then a drive to surprise her sister Nicole (who was also floored). We then drove east, travelling the same road Louise, Nicole and their parents did so many times before 40 years ago in the Polara to visit their Dad's family.
Oh yeah, the car now has a nickname: "Gilro" a combo of Louise's parents first names.
The Polara is now in storage for the winter. We can't wait for spring to get out and cruise around -- for years to come!
Here’s a link to some photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32255413@N06/show/
Lyrics
WHEELS OF LOVE
(c) 2008 Tom Guertin, All Rights Reserved
On the day your papa died
The world changed forevermore
Healing came in the form of a ride
Dad's '68 Dodge, blue, four door
Mama learned to take the wheel
Working hard to carry the load
Freedom found in chrome and steel
Many drives down recovery road
Who would have thought that your daddy's car
Could fill a hole in your aching heart...
(Chorus)
Those wheels of love helped drive your years of tears away
Those wheels of love helped steer you to a brighter day
There's something about that automobile
That filled a void and made you feel
As you drove around in those wheels of love
40 years have come and gone
Your parent's loss brings so much pain
I seek to give you a new dawn
At least make November bittersweet
Suddenly, I felt my spirit soar
There in a garage a thousand miles away
A '68 Dodge, blue, four door
Waiting to drive another day
Well, here's a gift to you, my wife
A Polara just like Dad owned in life...
(Chorus)
These wheels of love will drive your years of tears away
These wheels of love will steer you to a brighter day
Who would have thought that this old car
Could fill a hole in your aching heart
We'll cruise the town in these wheels of love
(Chorus - Mod-up)
These wheels of love will drive your years of tears away
These wheels of love will steer you to a brighter day
Who would have thought that this old car
Could fill a hole in your aching heart
We'll cruise the town in these wheels of love
(Chorus)
These wheels of love will drive your years of tears away
These wheels of love will steer you to a brighter day
Who would have thought that this old car
Could fill a hole in your aching heart
We'll cruise the town in these wheels of love
Who would have thought that this old car
Could fill a hole in your aching heart
We'll cruise the town in these wheels of love
Who would have thought that this old car
Could fill a hole in your aching heart
We'll cruise the town in these wheels of love
We'll cruise the town in these wheels of love
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