The Slice: Time to track down the old Pinto

Lots of us wonder what ever happened to cars we owned long ago.

But the other day, Gordon McLean actually found out.

Today McLean is president of Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville. But this story starts back in 1966, when he was a senior at WSU.

He bought a new Dodge Coronet 500 for about $3,800.

Two weeks later, he and wife Tresa honeymooned by driving it to Florida, where McLean had to report for duty in the Air Force.

After two tours of duty in Vietnam, he was transferred to a remote base at frigid Goose Bay, Labrador, in Maritime Canada.

“As there were no roads in or out, cars had to be shipped from Bayonne, New Jersey,” he wrote. “Few cars that went to Goose came back home due to the harsh weather and lots of salt in the air and on the roads.”

When it came time to move back to the states, he decided to sell the Dodge. He recalls feeling lucky to get $800 for it.

And that was that. Or so he thought.

Last month, he received an e-mail from Newfoundland. It turns out a guy there had restored the Coronet to prime condition. And that man’s daughter used the vehicle’s original title to track down McLean.

They sent along a few photos of the refurbished two-door. And McLean admitted it stirred him with a jolt of nostalgia.

Not coincidentally, the guy in Newfoundland was offering to sell the car, for about $25,000 Canadian.

McLean wasn’t that nostalgic about it. But he got a kick out of hearing about an old four-wheeled friend.

Just think, he said. “After 40 years, a car that I thought I had abandoned to the Canadian wilderness shows up in a lot better shape than me.”

“By the numbers: Spokane Valley’s Kathie Bruderer turns 66 on Tuesday — 6/6/06.

As you might know, there are those who believe the number “666” has satanic significance. Bruderer isn’t one of those folks. Still, the numerical coincidence attached to her upcoming birthday has generated conversation.

“Some say it will be lucky and some say I should stay in bed all day,” she wrote. “Others ask if I’m saying my prayers.”

The Slice’s advice is to ignore the dark mysticism and enjoy the day.

There is evil in the world. But June 6 — the anniversary of D-Day — already belongs to the good guys.

“Warm-up question: What goes through your mind when you hear the “thirtysomething” theme in the background on the Rick and Teresa Lukens radio show?

Me? I wonder what ever happened to Miles Drentell.

“Today’s Slice questioned: How many of your classmates were high during your high school graduation?