The Saga of Gloria and Her 1958 Impala - Nez

The family and six of their seven grown kids were neighborly, friendly and charitable Christians. They helped out wherever and whoever they could. Just two years following his family’s membership into the First Baptist Church of Lyman Mr. Aiken was elected Deacon. Immediately everyone in town heard the news and congratulated him. But, his daughter, Gloria, a college student who regularly partied and danced, wasn’t too keen on her Dad becoming a Deacon, knowing that certain additional church expectations would (and did) permeate the household.

Unexpectedly, in March 1958 Gloria dropped college, took a southbound Greyhound to Oregon and moved in with her sister, Mary Ruth and her family. Soon, with a new job, Gloria was partying and dancing as she pleased, without her Dad’s critical oversight.

Jimmy, the middle son, drank and didn’t care much about church.  Anyway, he was given a “pass” on his drinking due of his Korean War injuries. He often drove the family car to the Lyman Tavern, where he spent many of his days and nights. Tolerance was at a pretty high level for most people in Lyman. But of course, a couple of Baptist busybodies thought that having the Aiken’s vehicle usually parked at the tavern was unacceptable for the image of the church. So, the pastor discretely suggested to his newest deacon that Jimmy drive to the tavern in Hamilton instead. It was only four miles from Lyman but would be out of sight of those image conscious Baptists. Mr. Aiken soberly agreed.

So, Jimmy drove the family car to the Hamilton Tavern. He was usually there until closing and drove home drunk many nights. Only four miles, but one night he missed a turn, wound up in a creek, injured and the family car was totaled. Insurance paid Jimmy’s hospital expenses but offered only enough money for a down payment on another car. But Mr. Aiken decided not to go into debt for a new car so he didn’t buy anything.

Gloria, upon hearing that Jimmy had wrecked the family car and was himself hospitalized with injuries, came back from Oregon driving a brand-new 1958 Chevrolet Impala, two-door hardtop. A really nice car, which she had actually won in a dance competition the same night that Jimmy had his wreck. As a token of reconciliation, she offered the Impala to her Dad as the new family car but he wouldn’t accept a “sinful” car. However, after serious and heartfelt discussion with Mrs. Aiken he proposed to Gloria that if she wanted to return home and get a job he “would allow her to chauffeur” her mother and him whenever they needed transportation. Astounded but understanding that her parents needed transportation Gloria accepted her Dad’s terms and returned home. For a while.

A couple of months later, Mike, the oldest son and a Seattle realtor, needed additional agents and decided to hire Gloria. Before she left for Seattle Gloria again offered the car to her Dad and once again he declined. So, with her parents blessing Gloria and her 1958 Impala moved to Seattle.

Meanwhile, Freddy, the youngest son and a Navy veteran, seeing that his parents were again without a vehicle, traded his old pickup as a down-payment and financed a four-door, a 1959 Pontiac Bonneville sedan and offered it to his parents, but with the stipulation that Jimmy was banned from driving it. They graciously accepted.

Jimmy, without a family vehicle went back to the Lyman Tavern and continued drinking.

A few days later Freddy went back to the dealer and re-acquired his old pickup.

Very quickly Gloria, with her 1958 Impala, became a successful real estate agent while still partying and dancing. In fact, Gloria partied and danced her way to realtor of the year repeatedly.