1948 Lincoln Continental

1948 Lincoln Continental, Bozman Maryland

The 1948 Lincoln Continental sits alone in the rural post office parking lot. I stop to take photos. Within minutes a tall, 80-something dapper fellow pulls up with two women in tow. In a heavy Britt accent- as he licks the end of a handkerchief and wipes down the chrome trim- he says "Frank Lloyd Wright declared this the most beautiful car ever made". He explains that it had just stopped running and so he had given it a rest, hoping it would restart. "It will humiliate her if she doesn't start", he says. (I looked at the women before I realize he is referring to the car). Three cranks, and nothing.... his head drops towards his chest, he rubs his hands pleadingly across the steering wheel... "one more try, darling" he murmurs... the motor turns over and catches, the blonde jumps in the passenger seat, the driver does a quick U-Turn and zooms off down the country road, grinning widely, waving as he goes. The older woman who remains behind in the post office lot, looks at me and in her British lilt says somewhat wistfully... "Sometimes the most beautiful things in the world are the most demanding". I'm not entirely sure that she was referring to the car.