Memories, Stories, and Another Great Group of People

I trust everyone had a fine Memorial Day, and I'm grateful for the people who made the ultimate sacrifice to allow us to have a the opportunity to experience a good one ourselves.

There must be something in the water in Eastern, OH.  Trundling into Avon on a hot spring day, we were stopped at the edge of the Road by Joe and his son Tom. They brought us water, and let us try to explain the craziness that we’ve managed to get ourselves into. It was a rewarding exchange, and the water was just the right thing at just the rigth time.

Dad is a storyteller.  Get around him for just a split second, and you'll find yourself listening to some sort of story.  Some of the stories are parables meant to teach some sort of lesson, but most of them are just plain fun.

The Old Ford Tractor Across the Road - Avon, OH

A little way down the road, still in Avon, OH, I spied this tractor sitting in someone's front yard. It reminded me of a story Dad tells about the time he almost drove a late 1940's Ford Tractor through the back wall of the garage at his parent's house because he confused the foot rests for the brake pedals.  Grandpa Price hopped on the back and managed to get the machine stopped just in the nick of time. I'm sure I've heard that story tens if not hundreds of times.

Dad, reliving that fateful ride from seventy-one years ago.

Tractor Joe, the owner of the tractor saw us taking pictures and came out of his house to give us the history of his machine.  He also let Dad relive that fateful ride he’d taken seventy-one years ago. Fortunately, no barns were harmed in the process.

Joe and his son had completely restored this 1952 Ford Tractor that had been passed down from his own father.  Previously a farm, mowing, and snow plowing machine, this tractor has found continued life in tractor shows and parade appearances.  Joe drove it in the Avon, OH Memorial Day Parade at nine am today which, sadly, we missed.

Hearing the history and seeing Dad retell his own tale of fond memories of an old Ford Tractor was the highlight for both of us today.  

Dad and Tractor Joe swapping tall tales.

A little farther down the path in Amherst, OH, we were sitting on the freshly painted, but dry (we checked) bench at the Borman’s Farm Stand when Susan came out to see what were were doing.  She was a little worried that we were going to stand up with “white paint on our pants” from her fresh painting earlier in the day. Another round of storytelling commenced, and I was afforded a much needed twenty minute rest.

Dad and Susan after yet another round of tall tales.

Thanks for a great experience, Joe, Tom, Tractor Joe and Susan.  Another great set of examples where great people went out of their way to help make our pilgrimage a success.