I'm not sure I can tie the last few weeks into a story, so I'll just make a list.
A former neighbour from our past farming community called and needed some work done on one of his grain hauling trucks; it would be a repair that if you didn't have my trade and dealership experience, you could cause severe internal engine damage as there are a few procedures that need to be done and plus I knew what to look for once the symptoms were explained. I spent a late night on a Sunday, just doing what I do. The unique part about this was that being a former farm boy, the atmosphere, the smells, the feedlot full of yearling bulls across the fence watching me took me back to a part of my life I truly enjoyed. A couple days later he phoned and wanted to know what "he owed me"? I took in a bit of a deep breath and said, "You remember 22 years ago, you came by with a combine and helped me out when my dad was dying........I haven't forgotten that day, I needed help the most and probably deserved it the least, I've been waiting to pay it back somehow, I haven't forgotten that". Now, this man has more money and wealth than I could probably describe, he could probably afford it, but that doesn't matter, I was able to give back somewhat what was so freely given to me.
Continuing along with the mechanic stuff, I get a call from my "ex" father in law, similar circumstance, a repair he can't access, as the computerized electronics can only be accessed by specialty tooling which I have. That was strange, an even stranger feeling driving to a place where I'm sure there was a 12 gauge at one time with my name on it, I went to his shop, did what I do and after the diagnosis we're all standing around and there was this awkward silence, I love those moments, and since I couldn't let it go, in a voice slightly cockier than normal, I blurt out, "WHO'DA THOUGHT"!!!!! We all had a good laugh; from those days of lawyers, police, restraining orders, examination for discoveries, resentments, arguments (who me, yes, no really, I can explain). When it came time for the money part, I let it go,........."you're helping my boys with their mechanical stuff, lets just pay it forward". Sometimes you give of yourself, you just may not to choose who it is; not sure where the ripple effect of this will go, but it felt ok driving away that night.
Finishing off with more wrenching; I was able to help my girl friends 17 year old do his first oil change on his new to him truck. Spending the hour with,......with,......, I'm trying to describe a 17 year old boy here,.....so you get the picture. It was funny and yet painful; f-bomb this, f-bomb that, blah, blah, blah. Then it came time to Kung-fu him; I unloaded the "Praise, correct, praise" style of teaching I have been so freely given as I realized he wants to learn. He initially was working with his grandfather and I just stayed out of earshot just enough to know when to step in. When the right wrench needed to be used, I passed it over to them; when the proper drain tools needed to be used I explained he might want to use this and that and why. Don't get me wrong there were still moments where I quietly thought "65 million sperm and you were the quickest, Yikes"!!! I guess for me the lesson here was in patience, there have been several times in the last few years where I wanted to throttle this kid (and he more so probably deserved it), but I ran my frustrations past my classmates, certain Sifu's and managed to carry myself somewhat better than if I had unleashed my anger at the moment.
So all in all, I got to thinking that I may not know what to do right away, even if it takes 20 years or more, I can hopefully do the right thing and pay it forward. Robert.
