Travels in Grants
The name of my Ford F150 is “Trusty Steed” since it has taken me through snow, ice, mud and rain for the past nine years. As I was grooming it, there was a loose piece of rubber stripping. So, our trip for the day was to Jake’s. He had the usual herd of injured critters on his lot but came into his office with that little smile and the usual “Well, let’s have a look at it” and then solved the problem. I remember the several times I saw him, working alone, with customers waiting, while he made several calls to get a part at the best price and tackled the pile of insurance papers on his desk when he was put on hold. In spite of the pressure, he kept his cool and transmitted the information in a calm, respectful way (no swearing). He must be part genius and part saint. My Trusty Steed would enjoy some fresh oil, so we went on to Delta Tire. They did a great job remodeling and enlarging the area. The young men behind the counters look very professional. The customers were able to quietly sit six feet apart. Across from me was a grandmother with her young grandson who sat next to her, staring straight ahead with a sullen face. I know many grandparents here who are of great help caring for their grandchildren with little thanks. When she asked him twice to get her something to read from a nearby table – he just ignored her. Wonder why so many children are unhappy.
There is still part of me that thinks a mechanics garage should be messy with grease on the floor and dust on the shelves along with the batteries and oil. I remember Dwight had pictures and clippings on the wall that told you about his beliefs. If he had some time, we could talk about religion and politics without being cancelled. There was also a young woman who came in to happily give him a partial payment for the tires she so desperately needed. She was proud of honoring her unwritten commitment. He graciously accepted with a kind thank you.
This trip’s lesson: 1. Even if we’re stressed up to our – nose – it IS possible to be polite. 2. When we start getting angry about never getting back the money or stuff we loaned out, try to remember the times when we didn’t have enough money for our wants or needs. In any case, we are more blessed than most of our brothers and sisters on the planet Earth.