The Waiting Mercedes-Benz
[Published March 14, 2009]

Upon his divorce from his wife Elaine, Jerry Ducklow, for some inexplicable reason, decided to leave behind his prized Mercedes Benz in her back yard. He told her to leave it right were it was parked and he'd be back for it. She agreed thinking he would return in a few days. This was in 1977.

Five years went by and Jerry never came for his car. A phalanx of weeds and wild brush had grown up around it. Then ten years passed and small trees and vegetation began to envelop the car. Twenty years went by and trees branches and roots had broken the car windows and pushed through the floor boards fully engulfing it into the brushy landscape. But through all the years Elaine let the car be. She felt that one day Jerry would return and take it away.

Finally in 2002, after twenty five years, Elaine decided that Jerry was never coming back for his Mercedes. In all that time, she and Jerry had never spoke. She had no idea what ever happened to him. Elaine died in 2007 having never made contact with him after their divorce. As it turns out Jerry had passed away some 17 years earlier in 1990. So, unbeknownst to her, she had keep Jerry's car on her back lot twelve years beyond his passing. But she always felt that he was going to come back and want his German wheels.

When the car was finally hauled away, they found a note written by Jerry that survived the years. It read, "This car belongs to Gerald Ducklow. Do not remove."—instructions that one must say were well taken. This amusing little story makes you wonder why Jerry never bothered to come back for his Mercedes and why did Elaine allow the car to be "stored" on her lot for so very long. The mysteries of human nature.


Footnote: “Jerry” was born Gerald Lynn Ducklow, son of Lynn Shaw Ducklow, and grandson of Charles and Eva Ducklow. Charles Ducklow was Thomas and Elizabeth’s seventh child.
Footnote: Elaine and Gerald were married for about two years, from 1975 – 1977. It was Gerald's third marriage. Elaine's home was in Anderson, California.
Footnote: Elaine’s daughter, Nancy M., originally shared this story with the author.

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