Tuesday, September 09, 2003
Waiting in Clinton, IN while car is repaired.
Waiting in Clinton without a car reminded me of a cold cold night in about 1958 when I had a date with a girl who lived there. We didn't get along too well on that night, had an argument that most of us have had, and I left her house on that sour note.
I was going down Main Street, almost at the center of town (as it was then) when the Oldsmobile sputtered and the engine stopped running. I coasted to the curb and it would not re-start. It was after midnight, no one on the streets, and about 20 below. There was a hotel downtown but it was dark. I pounded on the door so loud that I thought someone might call the police. I would have to be near frozen before I would ask for help from the non-girl friend I had spent the evening with...
I went to the jail and found a deputy awake. I told him about the hotel and I asked if he could put me up for a few hours until a service station with a mechanic opened up. He said I could have a cell but he would have to lock the door. I didn't even hesitate (I can hardly believe there was a time when I would be that trusting). I was asleep on a jail cot locked up in a cell and glad that I wasn't freezing to death on the street.
He sprung me at dawn and when I tried the Olds, it started as if it had been waiting on me.
Next time I'm in Clinton, I'll try to take a picture of the Clinton Jail... and put a caption on it with my name saying I slept there.
... update – I’ve been back to Clinton several times and found no sign of the downtown jail.
I was going down Main Street, almost at the center of town (as it was then) when the Oldsmobile sputtered and the engine stopped running. I coasted to the curb and it would not re-start. It was after midnight, no one on the streets, and about 20 below. There was a hotel downtown but it was dark. I pounded on the door so loud that I thought someone might call the police. I would have to be near frozen before I would ask for help from the non-girl friend I had spent the evening with...
I went to the jail and found a deputy awake. I told him about the hotel and I asked if he could put me up for a few hours until a service station with a mechanic opened up. He said I could have a cell but he would have to lock the door. I didn't even hesitate (I can hardly believe there was a time when I would be that trusting). I was asleep on a jail cot locked up in a cell and glad that I wasn't freezing to death on the street.
He sprung me at dawn and when I tried the Olds, it started as if it had been waiting on me.
Next time I'm in Clinton, I'll try to take a picture of the Clinton Jail... and put a caption on it with my name saying I slept there.
... update – I’ve been back to Clinton several times and found no sign of the downtown jail.
