The Story Behind . . .The License Plates

The Story Behind...The License Plates
(to see the whole story)
 
Holly Sherburne is the founder of Plate Poets Publishing and the author of The Maine Plate: Maine Vanity License Plates and Their Meanings

She is a self-described “serial entrepreneur” whose active career has included stints in microbiology, toxicology, web design and newspaper publishing. She published The Maine Plate, a book of more than 250 Maine vanity license plates through Maine Authors Publishing. As for her inspiration she says, “Well why not? Who among us didn’t spend time as a kid looking for ‘cool’ license plates on long road trips?” The book took two years to finish and includes the stories behind these hilarious, unique, and sometimes heartfelt personalized plates, plus Maine anecdotes, trivia and more. Sherburne captures the words of what she calls “plate poets,” people who have the gift of poetic thought, imagination and creation, together with the eloquence of expression in seven characters or less.

Sherburne offered the following plates and stories, courtesy of Plate Poets Publishing.

HADENUF
Originally, I got the plate when I sobered up almost twenty years ago. I haven’t had a drink since. Also, I was unhappily married at the time, and friends laughingly changed the meaning of the plate’s name to reflect my upcoming divorce. I get many comments on the plate, and I like to think that people define it to suit their own fancy. HADENUF looks good when I’m covered in a snow bank, in a traffic jam, the definitions are endless, but the original meaning always stays the same. I’m retired now, but my plate used to greet me after a grueling shift at the hospital—HADENUF!! When people offer me a drink, I say, “HADENUF, thanks!”

VEGY OIL
I have a 1984 Mercedes Benz 300TD (turbo diesel) that I converted over to run on waste vegetable oil (fry-o-later oil) from local restaurants. She gets the same horsepower and miles per gallon that she gets when on diesel, but I get to lower my carbon footprint and cruise for free without supporting foreign oil.

GNGSTAH

 The story behind the name is that in 2001, when I bought this PT Cruiser, the first model on the market, I immediately thought it looked like the cars in an Al Capone movie from Chicago mobs, so the most obvious name should be “GNGSTAH.” It is bright red and I still get quite a bit of attention for that name. People smile and nod when they see it. My family insists I should mention I am 75 years old and very young at heart and appearance!! So, there you have it.

 Play the “Guess What It Means” game on Sherburne’s website http://platepoets.com and Facebook www.facebook.com/platepoets. Upload your own license plate and provide your story on her website or by emailing myplate@platepoets.com