And then she was gone

The top of the convertible was pulled down and securely tucked under the back seat. Her hair was flowing and 'Joe Hardy' was smiling as him and his fiancee were out cruising while his brother Frank was somewhere gathering up evidence for the next big mystery to be solved. I remember as they veered into the right turn on that black-ribbon highway along tree-lined acres of woods, the truck that caused the beautiful woman in the front seat to be smashed against the dashboard and 'Joe Hardy' thrown from the vehicle. Between the glass, mangled metal, blood-soaked hair stuck to her forehead, the radio blared the song David Gates and Bread made famous in thelatter part of the sixties. "IF" was all the audience ever heard as the screen went black and a commercial came on.

The year was 1978, the day was Monday October 2nd and this was the third season, episode 37, of the mystery show involving two brothers, Frank and Joe Hardy of The Hardy Boys Mysteries. All I could do was cry because the song was the key factor to 'if' they hadn't been driving on that road, 'if' they had not left the city, 'if' someone did not want 'Joe Hardy' to be truly happy and 'if' the ratings did not need new material to keep the show on Monday nights.

The series is long over, but re-runs still promulgate the airwaves in several countries and 'if' you see it, you too may shed a tear for love is never just an 'if' situation when for sure is how one feels. I will never forget the look on 'Joe Hardy's' face, and I will always remember 'if a picture paints a thousand words then where', that love, true love, stays in the memory banks for an eternity . . .