Where is everyone #5

That's pretty cool!

 

Use to date a gal who’s dad thought the world of me. I watched him go from a grown man to a child over a couple years, was really hard.
I would call and he would answer the phone, and unlike others who called he always told me yes..... his wife Charlotte told me one day, Jim he always knows who you are but not his own children, why?!! Simple I said, I talk his language. See Bill was a farmer at heart, farming and his cattle, raising corn and tobacco was what he enjoyed most. When I would call he would pick up the phone but never say anything, ( before he was bedridden) I knew it was him so I would ask.... Bill we need to get that corn planted are you ready? I’ve done put gas in the tractor. He would say yes and I could hear him tell Charlotte..... Jim. That’s all he said was Jim, but he knew who I was, simply by taking him back to his world. These things are hard, it’s a process that weighs heavily on your mind and your heart. Thoughts and prayers buddy.

 

As we grow older we at times realize the greatest gift in life is what we give, not what we receive.

My father in law courted my wife’s mother in his dads 1946 Willy’s Jeep. They married in 1954. As his retirement age got closer he decided to restore a Jeep, something for them both to enjoy after retirement that brought back memories of the early years. He bought a 1975 CJ5 with 29,000 miles and a bad body. A 76 and 77 Jeep where bought for the frame and various body parts / tub. He had the frame painted and the tub sandblasted, and was working the body in 1992 when his wife suddenly dropped dead at my wife’s feet. She died in my wife’s arms as she used CPR trying to revive her, nothing she could do. After that he lost his heart in the Jeep, but when he talks about it I can still hear a glowing ember in his voice. Always told him if I got a garage I would put it under cover, and I did. Unbeknownst to him...... I bought a new replacement tub, and have started mocking up the body, I want to drill needed holes before the paint goes on. I’m trying to spend a few minutes here and there as work allows, gotta work first and I’ve been staying pretty busy thankfully. But..... if God gives me the strength and time allows it will be on a trailer going to Tennessee for him to see for the first time. He knows I’m working on it but has no clue I bought a tub or where I stand on the progress. He kept mentioning a new windshield in a wooden box..... lol, guess what I finally found today?? This stuff has been in storage since the late 80’s at least, it’s like Christmas Day to me lol. He is 84 yrs old now and still in good health, but we know not what tomorrow brings..... tick tock tick tock.....

 

Really good post, Oldskooler. Really good post.

 

Made it to my upstate NY drop a little before noon as planned.


Currently at the home two-oh until further notice...

 

You only said that because he's Canadian. Too.

 

LMAO I'm glad you're here!

PS you work too much

 

Sitting here looking for freight out of TX for next week, and for some reason this gets stuck in my head...

 

Beautiful day for truckin' here in upstate NY

 

You're an awesome human being....and you're not even Canadian.

Lots of days I wonder if I'll end up like that. Most times I'd rather it was 1977. Back in '77 my old great Aunt still drove her '53 Dodge. Everyone knew that car and wanted to buy it from her because it was a 24 year old survivor. It occurred to me yesterday that my personal vehicle is 34 years old and my highway trucks are 33 and 21 years old. I have become my old great Aunt. I wonder if we don't just dwell in the past so much it eventually consumes us. Maybe these folks just want to remember and we need to go with it.

EDIT: I rambled pretty good there didn't I