Driving home not long ago I was behind a dark blue pickup truck. It was old. Not really old, maybe, but at least 5 or 6 years old. And it was dented and scratched. In a few places the scratches were deep enough to have started rusting through. It wasn’t exactly a piece of crap or particularly redneck-mobile looking yet, but it also wasn’t the nicest truck.

I spend so much time describing the general condition of the vehicle because of the vinyl sticker thing on the back. Where some people have the Calvin urinating on something/somebody/some number or maybe one of those die-cut 9/11 remembrance things, this guy had a phrase.

In Memory of Ron.

Yes, this guy apparently decided to dedicate his truck to his deceased friend/uncle/family member…or somebody named Ron, anyway. I assume it was a close relation since he chose the personal Ron over the formal Ronald. But really, is this the way to go? Some people get fancy headstones. Some people get park benches or paver brick dedication. Some people even get buildings or scholarships funded in their name. But a pickup truck? What an honor.

Then again, I’ve seen more than one commemorative t-shirt. I’ve seen an embroidered denim jacket. I’ve even seen a handwritten cardboard display. So maybe dedicating your ride to your old buddy isn’t so weird after all.

At least it wasn’t a Hummer.