My first station wagon: the origin story.

The 1989 Buick Century Custom Wagon

00:Context - Rock Bottom

It’s July 2021, we finally beat big flu, masks were coming off, and live shows were finally going on. I’m just turned 25 at the time and my then band were going on another weekender tour here in New England. Battling some severe opioid addiction and had only had my license back a year from a previous Benzo induced joy ride, I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to get off e (were not talking anout gasoline here) so I pull over into a cumbies parking lot driving my dads old manual 09 Chevy hhr panel van. Parking break being useless and n facing downwards slightly, I park the car in reverse gear, engine off but don’t turn my lights off. Being fentanyl was the only available opioid at 3:30am, one tiny sprinkle and quick toot, immediate relief, immediate… immm…. Hm.

knock! knock!….. it’s the sound of the police.

license now revoked again with an immediate threat letter, my father now aware of what his first norms been suffering from, and a class a charge for $10 worth of fentanyl. 4-6 failed drug tests/violation of probation, it was August 17th, 2021 my sobriety started to gain traction. I successful completed detox and I’m accepting further treatment in A 6month youth rehab, beautiful modern dorm type situation. Well, in the clinical field, it’s smart to force a bunch of young uncomfortable recovering addicts to wear face masks indoors at all times in a controlled environment. All I was asking for a is a soda. There was a soda fountain in the cafe. No! it was too dangerous! We can’t allow these kids, who put needles and deadly chemicals in their sleep deprived nutrition deficient bodies, to drink from the soda fountain n must make sure they have their masks on inside at all….. FUCK THIS. I had walked out, n somehow, my Probation officer was giving me my 7th and final chance to be in society on probation without violating. And 3 great months of sobriety after that… sniff sniff…I found a little cocaine (2 ounces) in my friends bedroom he put me in…. 5 days later my color was called for drug testing, FAILED. The judge gives me my 8th and final chance and 2 days later my color was called again. PASS! and wouldn’t you know it 2 days later my color was called again, had not done anything else since that stupid night, what I had already had in my System n failed for, built back up just enough to FAIL and on my 9th probation violation, my bail was revoked and a 30 day pre trial hold was called for. 3 month and 30 more days away from opioids, that was what really put the distance between the drug and this day almost 4 years clean from all drugs. Now, what the hell did any of that have to do with station wagons? Nothing. It’s just the path that led to me there.

01: Fighting the RMV​

Humbled by a sleepover in jail, n unsurprised how well I functioned. Knowing jail isn’t even scary if you’re not a tool bag, I’m finally back at the sign shop, banging out genuine and new antique neon signs, hanging them in car garages all over the place until my probation is over and can finally START the process of reinstating my license. I was called to do something a litttte different than play drums in a metal and hardcore band… my ex vocalist calls 6 months after I had bowed out of the band.
“Hey you still go that PA gear in your basement? Wanna run sound for a benefit gig we’ll pay you $200” *well known videographer will be there and wants to talk to you that day
Me: *heart pounding hands sweating knees weak arms are heavy theirs vomit on the spaghetti already moms sweaty* lol

YES MAAM. I was welcomed back into the scene I loved, and when it’s usually mostly edge kids you know that Erra of drug abuse coulda ruined your chances of ever playing out again, but we were a top band. And I did the amicable thing n stepped aside as to not drag them down. ANYWAY. With a fear of failure n a background in live sound production (nothing huge. Just stage handing and gain structure knowledge) I set off on what was prolly 3 straight weeks on forums and YouTube about doing live sound for specifically heavy bands reading manuals to gear I didn’t use or need just to get that context down, I had become after that day the go to and only metal and hardcore DIY sound guy, and never didn’t have a show lined up feedback? Negatory. Low end? Loud and tight, speakers high and dispersed, less is more mentality, analog only I had gotten down to the exact cable the best setup for about 10k that you could… wait a sec. I can’t drive. DAMN IT. If I only I had a supportive dad with a pick up truck willing to cart me all over the place to do all these shows i was getting. Oh wait. Hell ya I do! (Thank you always dad!!!!)

​

02: Catch 22 33 44 and schifvty five

the day was coming quick, I’ve jumped thru all the RMVs flaming hoops of bureaucracy and wouldn’t even been able to if my psychiatrist wasn’t an MD (not all are). My license was able to be reinstated after a competency road test was completed, but I can’t get a permit until the test was completed and I couldn’t get a car with a hand break in the center without an instructor needing me to have a permit and the catch 22 of all catch 22s, couldn’t reserve an instructor with a car without passing the competency test I needed an instructor and car for.
“Uhm son that’s the test they give senior citizens to see if their too old to drive that doesn’t sound right” “well it’s right here in writing so”
Thankfully their was one last human being left in the world of drivers ed willing to put the book down and use human comprehension to see that I get a temp permit that hour to drive for the competency test. This is where computers lack and the book doesn’t detail. Thank you to that man who was willing to let me drive illegally since it’s what the RMV pretty much making it seem like. But I had to wait 2 months for the test.

Scrolling Facebook, I seen someone whom my friends are friends with, share a post of a kid who owns a towing company and takes junk cars. Was the most beautiful and perfect car for what I needed for live sound gear and band gear, was this quirky, unique character of a car, what was to be my 1989 Buick century custom wagon.

03: the robbery ​

I IMMEDIATELY messaged the kid selling my lovely extension of my self that I want it n I’ll buy it that day. And I had also a junk car I could sell him! That pos hhr with 256k miles I died in twice. “mmmm I was actually thinking of keeping it my self n slamming it on bags and drifting with it but I got too many project cars. Uhh alright $1000 or $500 and the junk hhr. As long as it still has the cat”
“Sure does! Hasn’t moved from its spot in over a year!” Well. Guess who’s older brother at the time also loved doing drugs, me. Mine. My older brother at some point who knows when cut the cat out and I get a message from the pos bootlicking kid that owns that pos towing company

“you all robbed me you clearly cut the cat out yesterday i don’t have time for you crack head scammers” and boy… BOYYYYY DID NOT CALL MY FATHER AND I CRACKHEAD SCAMMERS. (You’ll just have to take my word for it, my dad would drive back to Walmart if he forgot to pay for a single roll of paper towels and I’m the guy that gives his shirt off his dying back if it makes someone else more comfortable. N everyone that knows me, regardless of my past addiction, never touched what wasn’t his)

after I collected my self n said “
dude I got your $300 here idk what a cat even does or looks like or where or how to get it out. I’m too busy n like the car was at the end of my drive way for a year. Who knows who or when that happened but
“No their was fresh cut marks and iron shaving underneath” (kid kisses cops on the mouth with young) so my dad goes down and hands him the cash, we were gunna buy it for the full $1000 cash anyway the hhr junking was a bonus.

and all said In done, that’s how robbed a bootlicking son of a bitch for this absolutely gorgeous imperfect beast, my 89 Buick century custom wagon v6 3.3l 4 speed auto overdrive with 137k miles and still giving her only the best.

jokes on you pal this cars lasting me my entire life and you only got $700 and bonus, not a single person I know isn’t jealous and shares OUR enthusiasm for sexy old boxy station wagons

from tetrising in a whole full range live sound system n traveling all over New England in style doing it to now only my self cuz HA musicians don’t got the kinda money I need or am worth. Idc if the world loves or hates me. I’ll be in this magnificent metal g wagon rippin buts and blasting house music for the next 70 years.

Told as true to the detail in order of happenings as accurately as I could. Thank you if you read this. Let’s talk about car stuff! Love you

 

great job on being sober, i understand all of it. mine wasnt oxxy, but booze. 29yrs sober this july, my carshave helped me a great deal to stay on this path. keep writing, keep workin on cars, keep moving forward.

 

Welcome aboard. Congratulations on your sobriety. Good luck with the Buick. I hope it serves you well for years to come.