I remember my dad’s words, “A man’s word is his bond.” I have always tried to keep my word. I remember Hiawatha, not the Indian Maiden, but a customer. She asked me to be at her house at one o’clock. That day for some reason my truck was running hot. I knew better, I had a bag-phone, I could have called her and she would have understood, but I wanted to keep my word. So I pushed the truck and the engine froze up as I pulled into her drive. I kept the appointment and got the job, but damaged my engine.
I was in my 40’s when I started building. After the closing on my fourth house and the buyer had left the office, the attorney said, “Your closings are always simple. There is never a construction loan, no bank note to pay off, no material bills to pay, how do you finance your company?”
Puzzled, I said, “I borrow from friends and pay them a straight 10%.”
“Where is the paperwork?”
“There is no paperwork, it is done on a handshake.”
“WHAT? You borrow $30-$50,000 on a handshake? You cannot do that!”
“Sure I can, they know I have a note in my safe telling Sherry who I owe, and she will pay them if I die, my word is my bond.”
Using a lot of legal stuff, he convinced me to change my ways, so I did until I retired.
(I have no idea why my truck is parked like this or what the occasion was)
I remember after I retired, I was driving my love, an old 1953 Chevy p/u and it decided to quit on me. I jumped out, raised the hood. Quickly started looking for the trouble, then all of a sudden it hit me, “What is the hurry? Where are you going? Relax boy, you are retired.”
To anyone driving by on Rozzel’s Ferry Road, they would have thought I was crazy. I couldn’t help myself I started laughing and couldn’t stop.
I found the loose coil wire, plugged it back in, then drove on toward the Stock Yard Grill and done something I don’t remember ever doing before that, I stopped and had a cup of coffee by myself and relaxed.
Retirement was Okay!
Nite Shipslog
PS:
At times, we go too fast to enjoy life.
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I know you would love to drive this 1951 Hornet around, I sure would.
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13 comments:
Thank you for reminding me what life should be like....some things need to be the way they used to be. A man's word should be his bond.
Also...I always need to stop, take a breath, and smell the roses along the way. There is no need to hurry or worry. My Lord has it all under control anyway.
Hugs to you, my friend,
Jackie
A man's word should be a good enough bond too - too bad things have changed for some.
You are right we are all in a hurry
and where are we going. We need
to slow down and be thankful for
what we have and enjoy every minute. As we say Life is short and we don't need to make it any
shorter. Let's enjoy living.
Like this entry very much. It says it all.
Wish there was more of that in the world today.
I like that old Chevy. We're rainy again, just can't get that weather man to drop the temps here so it will turn to snow...ha. Have a great weekend, Love from Bama, Sheila
I like the way you did business, Jack. Imagine if more people were that honorable; I think we would be in less than a mess than we are in now in this country and world.
betty
I love being retired and living in the slow lane. Yes, we do have to remind ourselves now and then that we really are retired and there is no rush anymore. After so many years of working and having to be someplace at a certain time, it's really wonderful not to have to do it anymore. A man's word should be taken for what it is, just that. But in today's world, sadly that is not the case in a lot of situations. In your case it's good you got a lawyer for your own protection. Hope all is well with you all in sunny Florida. We are to get a little more snow here today and it's 28 degrees outside.
It is a good man that keeps his word and does all he can to protect that. Hopefully it is warm in Florida where you are. A little chilly and windy here. Happy New Year to you all!
If you were doing that here in Lincoln you may have been beat out of some money. Of course I am comparing now to then. Our town is so full of crime. I had to laugh at one robbery gone wrong. A robber was holding up a convenience store and a customer came in. I think the robber got a rude awakening cause the customer was a martial arts instructor and he took the would be robber down.
Perhaps a little rush here & there, a bit of things you don't need or want in the big picture, but overall, you 2 do it right. That is very obvious.
You're a good man, Jack. That's exactly why folks just 'knew' you were a man of your word. My folks were the same way. It was a good way to grow up, just 'grow.'
And yes, I'da loved to drive that 51 Hornet but I would have only been a yr. old. LOL...but give that same set of wheels to me today and I'd have to burn a little rubber down 70 past the fishin' hole.
Thanks for stopping by always.
LoveYouGuysFromColdSnowyWI
All we have in life is our integrity, everything else flows from that. You are a good man...
Those Hudsons were very well-built cars. It's sad they hit the wall along with so many other independent car builders in the '50s.
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