Identity Revealed
6/23/19
This photo was taken on Saturday, May 1st 2019 at 7:04 AM.
The location was in shopping area on a major road leading into Washington DC through the NW section.
The "Take It!” came to me just as this large utility company van was pulling out of a parking place in order for the driver to get into his
day after having stopped at 7-11 which I also frequent on a regular basis. For some unexplained reason, the front of this truck with its traffic cones holder affixed
to the front bumper and fully loaded with cones prompted a comparison to a pair of fangs.
I was so strongly overpowered by this recognition that I walked into the street in front of the truck which was slowly pulling out of the
parking place - with my hand raised in the traditional "Stop!” gesture and my camera case in my other hand slightly elevated to show the driver - my intent to take a
photo. Somehow he correctly read my meaning and stopped the truck while I snapped the photo and then walked up to the passenger side of the big van to attempt to
explain myself to the driver. I arrived at the door and gestured for him to open the door window which in that type of vehicle cannot be done as it is a fixed part of
the door and requires the entire door to be opened and slid backward to obtain an opening. The driver who was a younger man with a shaved head and a robust beard - was
curious enough to put on the emergency brake, get out of the drivers individual seat, and take the steps to come over and open the door. He looked at me - and before
he could speak - I told him that I had finally determined what the front of his truck looked like with the inverted cones on the front bumper. He was so stunned by the
whole sequence of things - that he did not say a thing - only waited (the split second) for me to tell him. I stated "They look like FANGS!" With that - he broke
into a roar of laughter. I too laughed and while he laughingly returned to the driver's seat - I stated that he was welcome to have as much fun with that, as he
possibly could. His reply was something to the effect of - I should believe, he was going to get a lot out of our encounter.
I do not know which of us has had the most fun from this, but can only hope he got a fraction of the laughter I enjoyed in relating the
incident to others while including the showing of the attached photo as a part of the story telling.
As the day and the fun accumulated - I came up with a label for the vehicle - 'Truckula.’ Which I incorporated into the story
for those who I was lucky enough to share it with later in the day - which added even more merriment to the relating of the incident.
Here it is, a few days later - and like some things that repeat in one's mind - I had a further label arrive - 'Vanpire.’
This is one of those things that makes my part in the fun of putting together this site - ever so worth while.
Here is hoping each of you enjoys a laugh out of this madcap meet up.
Bruce
PS: I need to say that over the years, I had seen this cone to truck application before - but not on a frequent basis, and while it is
entirely practical and rather ingenious - it always looked goofy to me.
Write a comment
Jim (Thursday, 04 July 2019 21:08)
Buffy the "Vanpire" Slayer.
Sally (Thursday, 04 July 2019 21:09)
My daughter says it looks like a face, the wipers being the eyebrows. Her imagination is much better than mine.
Gabe (Thursday, 04 July 2019)
You came up with some Grade A Puns in this one.
SF1967 (Thursday, 04 July 2019 21:10)
My utility van I drove for 25 years had cones like that on the back.
MHampy (Thursday, 04 July 2019 21:11)
Wow, glad the guy reacted positively. I was always under the impression big city drivers were impatient and rude.