Raising cane: Tucson, Arizona's candy cane-wielding Muffler Man

We had the good fortune to take a nice trip to Arizona last January, before the state became embroiled in its current and ugly immigration-related controversy. I had heard about a fine muffler man in Tucson, and we spotted it on the corner of Glenn and Stone in the parking lot of Don's Hot Rod Shop. During most of the year, this Bunyanesque specimen clutches a big ax, but since we were still in the afterglow of the holiday season, we got to see him holding a large festive candy cane and sporting a yellow stocking hat. He's a little worn looking but still packs a friendly wallop to those passing by this retro stretch of pavement. In fact he's one-third of a retro roadside trifecta, all on the same corner: a muffler man, a fine old neon sign, and a Truly Nolan Nash Metropolitan. I'll get to the neon and Nash in the next post. In the meantime, bask in the holiday cheer of Tucson's friendly version of Citizen Cane. Rosebud......