PEARLY GATES

The Ramirez Family Rolling Memorial

- JOHN MATA JR

LOSING A GRANDFATHER CAN BE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS TO HAPPEN IN A YOUNG BOY’S LIFE. While nothing can ever take the place of a lost loved one, caring for their prized possessions and recalling long-lasting positive memories can help ease the pain with familiarity and comfort. The special physical items left behind can live another lifetime.

We all have keepsakes that once belonged to someone we deeply cared for, and it’s interesting to think about what each particular object says about that person. Some of them are completely random trinkets that carry no real personal connection to who our loved one was, while others are more directly connected to their interests and personalities—this is the good stuff that never gets misplaced or forgotten about.

It’s safe to say that all of us here (readers included) are truck people for the most part—or, at the very least, a few car folks who can appreciate a cool pickup. Brandon Ramirez of Mesa, Arizona, might classify himself as someplace in between. The sweet ’48 Chevy seen here is his, but it wouldn’t be completely accurate to say that this make/model has always been his dream vehicle.