End of the line for a license plate

[drooartz]

It's the end of a piece of family history for my family. This license plate, EK-957, is now officially retired. In RI, the plates can stay with the owner and not the car, so we've had this plate number in the family for many years. Every so often the state would send out a new set of plates (with the same numbers).

How many years? Well, here is a picture from 1962 on the day of my parent's wedding. The car is my dad's car, the plate was his. (Note, the folks in the picture are not my parents, but are friends of theirs decorating the car for the day). This plate has been in active service on one of my parent's cars cars ever since.

I learned to drive on a car with this plate (1985 Chevy Celebrity wagon, never was there a more misnamed car). My parents kept this plate until this year, when it finally came to that time when my dad can't be driving anymore. He made it to 92 years old driving safe and sound, but a few months ago had a bit of unscheduled off roading in his car (he was okay thankfully) and it was time. The car was donated for charity and actually brought the charity some money considering it was pretty used up, thanks to the current used car market . Thus came the end of the plate's service. My mom thought to keep one of the plates, so it will get a place of honor in my shop.

 

[Basil]

It's the end of a piece of family history for my family. This license plate, EK-957, is now officially retired. In RI, the plates can stay with the owner and not the car, so we've had this plate number in the family for many years. Every so often the state would send out a new set of plates (with the same numbers).

View attachment 77182

How many years? Well, here is a picture from 1962 on the day of my parent's wedding. The car is my dad's car, the plate was his. (Note, the folks in the picture are not my parents, but are friends of theirs decorating the car for the day). This plate has been in active service on one of my parent's cars cars ever since.

View attachment 77183

I learned to drive on a car with this plate (1985 Chevy Celebrity wagon, never was there a more misnamed car). My parents kept this plate until this year, when it finally came to that time when my dad can't be driving anymore. He made it to 92 years old driving safe and sound, but a few months ago had a bit of unscheduled off roading in his car (he was okay thankfully) and it was time. The car was donated for charity and actually brought the charity some money considering it was pretty used up, thanks to the current used car market . Thus came the end of the plate's service. My mom thought to keep one of the plates, so it will get a place of honor in my shop.

That is a wonderful piece of family history! Glad you were able to keep in as a memento.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Bittersweet for sure, Drew. You're fortunate to have that kind of family history reminders; many of us have only memories. Not that that's a bad thing...

 

[Gliderman8]

That’s a wonderful story. Thanks for posting it.

 

[drooartz]

As a life long car guy, this plate number was one of the first things I memorized (along with our street address: RR1 Box1 Pole 59 = rural route 1, box 1, telephone pole 59).

Neither my wife or I are big stuff keepers, but having a few reminders around feels right. Writer Peter Egan once wrote about a baseball glove and kids 22 rifle that he kept around as a sort of short-hand for his childhood. I've always liked that idea.

And I hope I can still be driving until I'm 92!

 

[mikephillips]

You never know, my 3rd grade teacher drove until nearly 100, even bought a new Ford truck at the age of 99. She was the definition of "spry old lady"

 

[pdplot]

I still have my PXP plate given to me on my 17th birthday by my dad.