I Hit The Jackpot Today!!!!!

I got a call at 7:30 am from a elderly fella I have got a lot of computer scrap from. Last week he needed a couple older parts and I happened to have them. I gave them to him since he has brought me a lot of computer scrap.

Over the last couple years we have developed a a relationship. He is 89 and stops by the shop 2 times a week to have a cup of coffee and chat up my Dad and I for a minute. He loves what we do. He is always saying I should take time off and enjoy life for a minute now and then. Of course I simply tell him that for now I have to work so that when I get his age I won't have to. We always have a good laugh.

He asked me if I would do a pick-up for him at his brothers house. His brother passed a couple weeks ago. I went over there and he said he was cleaning out a shed and could not do it alone. First he gave me a bunch of scrap metal. Then he gave me 4 electric chairs of different types. All of them still work and are nice. he said he just wanted them gone and did not want anything for them. They are freaking HEAVY!

Then we go to the very back of the shop and there is a HUGE aluminum Johnboat with a crazy looking motor on it. He tells me to hook up to it and get it gone. Of course I told him I could not afford it. It is a nice boat. He said it is scrap to him and he wanted the shed cleaned out before tomorrow morning.

I tried to offer him some money for it and he simply refused. We asked him over to the house for IOWA pork chops and we had a wonderful dinner. He gave me a title and all of the paperwork for the boat, motor and trailer. He said he knew all about hard work a struggling and that through out his many years he had score a few good shots once in a while also.

He made me promise to go fishing with my folks. I have arranged to take Friday, Saturday and Sunday off next week to go fishing with my folks on the Mississippi.



I am overwhelmed and amazed by people like Sam. The good keeps coming. I offered to take Sam with us, but he said he would not get in a boat. He said to just bring some fish home.













Here are a few pics of the boat. They are not very good and fail to show how very big this thing is. i will get better pictures later.

Wow!! Congrats on the score! Your friend sounds like a really cool guy! Set him up nice with the fish!!

nice score

hey that is awesome.. way to go.. and that was kewl of him to give you that boat..

The reason why that motor is like that is for shallow fishing.. or rocky lakes.. or going thru narrow channel.. have you watch.. swamp on TV.. not sure which one use it.. but its great for moving around in narrow channel and seaweed infested area.. you can rasie the motor out of the water.. and while its running and spin the slop off the prop and lower right back in.. They are really
kool motors..

again.. Nice score.. and you best bring him some fish.. and a six pack of beer to sit and enjoy them fishies.

Nice!

I am still in shock this morning. I am so very grateful for Sam's kindness.

I found out this morning at breakfast that my Mother had told Sam a while back that she was happy that we have been busy,
but that it did not seem like I had much time for fishing with her now. I almost started crying right there and probably will later when I think about it again.

My Mother is 72 and I used to go fishing with her at least once a week all summer. My folks go to Texas every winter because my Mother can't handle the cold any more.
She always kids me that aside from seeing the Grandchildren going fishing was one of the reasons she came home to Iowa every year.

Boy do I feel like an idiot! I feel like fate has a funny way of righting things I do wrong sometimes. In a recent post somebody asked something like "What You Need Most For Your Business".
I think I replied more hours in the day. I was wrong folks. What I need is to remember that I have family and friends that have needs too.

In the future I will take my Mother fishing at least once a week no matter how busy I am. Success is not only measured in what kind of return I get on my scrap. I have dropped the
ball BIG TIME and what Sam gave me yesterday was far more than a boat. As BroJer said 'HE SCHOOLED ME BIG TIME"!!!!

Thank you for all of your kind comments,

Mike

P.S. My Grandfather used to tell me when he was alive, "If you feel guilty, it is usually because you are....."

Always looking for that balance...and just when you think you're there something tips the scale.

Great story for any day, especially Monday Morning.