Posted by sgtbull on August 26, 2007 at 22:41:28 from (166.159.173.247):
Mike's post reminded me of an incident years ago that left a profound impact in my life. Forgive me if it revolves around a green tractor, but the color is unimportant in this story. We've all been there. Trying to separate the owner from his rusty, worn out old tractor so that we can pull it in our shop and have a few months of therepy restoring it. We'll assure the owner that it will be loved and cared for, and treated with respect. It's memory won't be discarded, and of course, we'll send pictures to the seller or bring it by, or give him a call and have him come see it again when its done. What seems to escape many of us in our excitement of aquisition is that this may be a lot more than just an old tractor to this man or woman. It may have been an integral part of their life, putting food on the table and paying the bank its due shares. Its easy to procrastinate in this obligation, if not forget it entirely. I made just such a promise back in 1997 in my efforts to woo a 1959 JD 630 away from its owner. The tractor was "for sale", but the owner seemed very reluctant to let it go when the actual amount was agreed upon. He finally relented, with the promise that I would call him when the tractor was restored as he wanted to see it. He was only selling it because of his failing health and rising medical bills. (BIG HAIRY CLUE THERE....) Happily, I agreed, and off to my shop it went. 3 months later the tractor was done. A fully restored, orignal looking, completely usable tractor. Ready for me to mow my pasture with, and dote over as being my pride and joy. And the days went by. 6 months had passed from my purchase. It occured to me that when I bought it, the seller had told me to stop by sometime, as he had the original owners manual for the tractor, but wasn't sure where it was right then. Armed with some photos of the tractor, and at a time when it was "convenient" for me to swing by, I did so. I pulled into his drive and went to the door, being met by his wife. Smiling, I asked if "Johnnie" was home, and without taking much of a breath, told her that I would like to show him the pictures of their tractor. Her eyes welled up, and I realized that I was somehow, making a huge mistake. She told me that Johnnie had died about a month before. Cancer had taken its toll. She went on to say how he had talked almost incessently about his old tractor and how it had gotten them through so many years on the farm. He said when he got to feeling better, they were gonna go to my house and take a look at it, and hopefully drive it again. He also intended to drop off the owners manual that he had found. He never did feel better. She asked if she could pay to have some copies of the photos made. Of course, I handed her the photos, and refused any payment. One of the photos showed Johnnie smiling, standing next to his tractor the day I picked it up in the snow, with his hand on the nosecone. She especially liked that one. Feeling very embarrassed and saddened, I apologized for not knowing about her loss, and began the process of saying goodbye, when she asked me to wait just a minute. She went into the house and returned with the owners manual, witout me having even asked for it. She said it had been laying on Johnnie's dresser, ready to be taken to me when he "felt better". Now I REALLY felt low. Driving home, I reflected on how I had "just missed him", so to speak. The opportunity had been there, but I hadn't followed thru like I should have, especially after the "clue" about his failing health. It's bothered me to this day. His house is on my patrol, even though his wife has since passed and someone I don't know lives there now. It serves as a reminder NOT to put things like that off. Just thought I'd share that.
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