CAT Diesel Power

I have wonderful memories visiting Grandpa Elmer when I was a young boy during the timeframe when he had his trucking business and he always seemed to be wearing a CAT Diesel Power baseball hat. Grandpa was always proud of his 18 wheelers and enjoyed sharing his enthusiasm for them with me and presumably all his grandkids.

It was always great coming into Willits for our annual summer visit seeing one of the trucks parked in front of the old homestead and particularly exciting to be able to get close to them and actually climb into them. I recall one summer trip, Grandpa took me out in one for a ride to either Ukiah or Fort Bragg. It was a great day, one of those magical days as a boy when you’re doing something BIG. And what could be bigger than rolling around in a big rig? Nothing I suppose except receiving my own CAT Diesel Power baseball hat as a small memento of the experience. I think my Dad has a picture of me wearing it somewhere (perhaps it is a slide) and of me in the cab of the truck with Grandpa behind the wheel.

Those memories lived on in my playtime. When I lived in Burundi, I would play with Matchbox trucks outside recalling fondly my memories of riding around with Grandpa, pretending to be a trucker. To this day, every time I see a big rig, I can’t help but think a little of Grandpa, Uncle Jack, and Uncle Monte driving those trucks around CA and the West for their next haul.