Oktaha, Oklahoma - Junkyard Muffler Man

I nearly ran off the road as I spied him as I rounded a curve on an overgrown, bypassed loop of "old" Hwy 69, south of Muskogee...I had read the article in the October issue of Smithsonian, but did not realize that the invasion had once reached to within a few miles of my home...yet here he was, a MM more or less of the classic style, now cruelly forced to labor in front of Cagle Auto Salvage, silently imploring passing motorists with the secret hand signal, hoping day after day that someone would recognize his wordless plea and notify his People of his whereabouts. He had almost given up hope after most of the traffic moved to the "new" Hwy 69, a straight, divided, high-speed four lane just a few miles to the West a few years back, but I think I caught a glint of recognition in his eye as I passed...a hope that finally his People will know of his captivity, and perhaps he'll be reunited one day...hmmm, on second thought, perhaps you should TELL NO ONE...wait, what's that noise?... Seriously, don't you think it's odd that these guys have these big, smug, self-satisfied smiles on their face when there are no muffler WOMEN to be found?! [Bill Overby, 10/26/2000]

[RA: April 2008 - Photo added.]