for 30 yrs I ran a hme improvement business ,,. done real good with it ,, and built a reputation as thed verybest when it came all sorts of siding and trim specialty trim work ,.. trouble was every guy , I trained that took to the biznes well sooner or later became my competition ,, no matter how much more I paid them , bonuses and so forth ,,. they always saw greener grass on the other side ,,. ,. then there were the guys that you had to teach over and over again ,. I recall being exasperated with one kid we had for the summer ,.and told him "this job aint no different than the last job we done except it is a different color ,,. so start acting like you know what you are doing " lol,. serveral of my guys went on to do real good in their own bisnez including my son , who took over the business name, and "hit the ground a runnin,". one of my hi school summer helpers is now a bank branch presiden. and all these guys are still my friends.
but what I do not miss,. teaching new help how to read a tape measure SHOCK .. coming home late nearly every nite after either selling a job , and or grinding feed and feeding 200 head of hogs on the fat floor we built at dads when was 14 yrs old ,. getting up at 6 am , help my dear wife getting the kids breakfast and driving them 6 miles round trip to the bus stop to catch the St Joseph school bus,.at 7:30 am , the guys were due to show up and start lading and receiving my working orders for the day ,,. many a week I had 4 different crews running in the summer monthes,. but I had to be careful that I did not do too much new construction ,,. those guys usually paid 30 -60 days in aRREARS ,. so a few down home farm folx jobs helpt keep the cash flow going,.. we were making money hand over fist ,,. never mind the mules just load the wagon ,.. the siding and trim business was my vehicle to be able to retire from and own and work a full time farm,, and I DID IT, I own 235 acres , and rnt 60 more acres ,,. plus have a lease on another 125 acres of hay ground . But I am not sure it was worth it ,.LOL,.
I could a hired in at ford motor in Louisville,.. by now I would have a fat pension ,but getting there would not had been the full life experience that gave me the wisdom and satisfaction I enjoy today ... as I mentioned in earlier posts,. it seems there were 40 yrs that were a total blur , my wife quit me and filed for divorce ,, there was nuthin I could do to save that once wonderful relationship ,. I relize now she and I were both tired of the pace ,,,. my parents drilled into me a STRONG honorable work ethic , and she was from the same type of cloth . I did enjoy my 4 kids growing up to be successful.. so many times though ,,..because of the hectic schedule and heavy responsibilities , I felt instead of running my biznez, I felt my business was running me ,, at times I would have a dreaM , that I was a foreman laying track and the locomotive was breathing down my neck ,,. that's when i knew I needed a break and I took timeout with my wife and children,.. I have been a county commissioner , and will complete 2 terms on county council after this year ,10 yrs ago I married a lovely Sicilian born gal , that gives me smiles each day ,I had stage 3 colon cancer, major surgery in march , completed 12 chemo thereafter , and though it has been 40 days since my last treatment still have numbness and tingles in my hands and feet ,,I struggle to do just the basics around the farm ,. but, I am now Cancer FREE, and next year should be better,. sorry for the long post ,. it took me 45 yrs to live the post,,
