YOU SCRATCH MY BACK,ILL.......

[escavader]

Just a little story about friends with tractors.In 1990 i made friends with an older couple whom were neighbors with my inlaws,who all live about 40 miles from my home..My wife and i were making plans to build an extensive addition to our home.Even though HARRY,and i just met,he wanted to help,and he came with my father in law each day to help He even took a week off from his job to help..What a friend he has become.I help him on his construction projects,our homes,we each have helped each other build nice camps,there has never been any end to lending a hand to each other.Its hard to figure out how a guy in his 70s and me in my 40s are such good friends.If we are not building we are riding atvs with the family.Hes like a dad,thats why we call him HARRY DAD.
His little old two cylinder case tractor has done so much for me.From spreading gravel for a new round turn drive,to grating an elevated back lawn,too a swimming pool pad,the little case and my friend have been a life saver.He told me of how he bought it in the early 70s,and of how handy and how nice it was to own it.Well he convinced me a year or so ago,and i bought my BX-23.
So any way, Harry and his wife,now retired for 5 years or so,go south for winters,to avoid the cold and heavy snow of the mountanous area they live in up here in MAINE.They usually return in mid APRIL after most of the snow in their driveway is gone.
Well i get a call from him on wednesday night.His grandson is very ill,and in intensive care at a local hospital.He asks' Would you be available to hire to go and clean out my drive way'[ They live along side the road,and there was 3and a half feet of frozen snow bank,in front of their home,as well as a foot,in the rest with an ice skating rink base]I replyed " of course i will,ill have it done before the weekend for you" He then says" I wont let you do it un less i can pay you.Can you believe it !!!PAY ME !!!! I JUST ABOUT IMAGINE!!!!! I told him that we would square up when he got home[i lied to avoid an arguement]
Well i took a vacation day friday,in the remenents of the snow storm,loaded up and went up and did it.Hes got about a twenty foot banking now 8 feet high,off to the side,plenty of room for the large RV,and his cars.I was so happy to finally,do some tractor favor for him after all hes done for me.I dont consider it payback,friends dont pay each other back,or worry about it,they only help each other.I would love to see the expression on his face when he sees all that snow stacked up,and a bonus... I plowed his back drive out,so he could get too his truck,and his little case tractor. The reason im telling you this is that the feeling i have tonite for this old man,and to be able to do this deed ,is more payment that money ever could.So HARRY ,when you read this ....PAID IN FULL MY FRIEND!!!!
ALAN

 

[Jstpssng]

You actually have SNOW there? I was working down around Mt Blue last week, even on the high ground I didn't want my snowshoes. That storm Thursday night was a real PITA though, after having October weather all winter I really didn't want to deal with it. (Nor did a lot of other people... the sirens were going past my motel room in Farmington all night long.)

Doesn't it feel great when you can actually give something back for a change? Sometimes (Most of the time?) it's easier to give than to recieve; when I help someone out I always tell them that I don't keep score, (I don't... unless YOU'RE helping ME), yet it took me a long time to realise that the best form of appreciation sometimes is an honest "Thank You."

On a similar note you may have a tough time turning down money from your friend without hurting his feelings, despite all the times he's done the same for you.

 

[RonR]

Well Done!

 

[escavader]

JSTPASSING,
If you were working aroung Mt blue,you were right near my camp.Its on mt blue pond ,i was up there in the late afternoon ,cutting wood.Ankle deep at the most,but the banks were two feet. If you stayed in FARMINGTON,you were about 3 miles from my home.Give me a yell when your in town,and we can do lunch and talk tractors!!Harrys home is up in MADRID.,they had some big bankings,from not being plowed all winter,and a couple of storms in the last week,left a foot in behind them.I had to keep my foot on the differential lock,it was glare ice underneath it all
ALAN

 

[MossRoad]

Very nice story. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif It reminded me of when my wife and I got married.

We bought a house from a relative's estate and there was a little old couple that lived in the house next to us. The first day I was there they immediately invited us over to talk. He found out I liked to fish and so did he. We hit it off right away. Over the next 11 years, I'd snowblow his sidewalk, drive and alley in the winter and when I came home from work in the summers my lawn would be mowed. There'd be a case of fruit on our back doorstep, and by the time my wife could make some of it into a pie, she'd take it over to them and they'd have a pie already waiting for us. Ben and I went fishing a few times and once in a while my wife and I would go for rides with them on the weekends and just drive around in the country and stop at parks and talk. Old Ben passed away suddenly after we knew him about 8 years. My wife came home as they were wheeling him out to the ambulance. She comforted Irene until her daughter arrived. After a couple months, Irene moved in with her daughter and sold the house to her grandson and his wife. We would see Irene occasionally and she lived another 5 years or so and fought a courageous battle with cancer. I still miss them to this day.

I recommend to anyone with elderly neighbors to strike up a conversation with them, find some common interest and listen to their stories. Gain some wisdom from them and just enjoy their company. Someday you will be old, some young kids will move in next to you and you'll know how they feel. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Jstpssng]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If you stayed in FARMINGTON,you were about 3 miles from my home. )</font>
My brother is out on the Lucy Knowlton road. I was going to go see him Thursday night but the way the roads were I didn't go anywhere.
We're Rangeley bound later on this week, hopefully the weather will cooperate. (I'll be a passenger... my truck is going in for repairs after numbing a turkey last week.)

 

[billbill1]

When the payment arguement starts, what I found works is tell them OK you pay me the same amount that you would charge me for doing the same for me. They know that they wouldn't charge you a dime. Also, tell them that it would take away the good feeling that you got for doing something for someone that means as much as they mean to you.

 

[scott_vt]

Goodman Alan,
My neighbor up the road from me is the same kind of guy! He lets me keep my Massey in his barn and helps me out all the time. The last time I was there I was driving the Massey down to my property to cut up a downed tree along my south hedgerow, well I never made it, the tractor died between my place and his. I had some water in the fuel, spelled ice /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif He helped me get the tractor back to the barn. Today he calls me to let me know that I managed to get air in the lines /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif but between himself and my other neighbor, who is a sheep farmer they got the old girl up and running /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Its good to have friends like that /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Job well done on your part!

scotty

 

[AB4D]

[I recommend to anyone with elderly neighbors to strike up a conversation with them, find some common interest and listen to their stories. Gain some wisdom from them and just enjoy their company.]

Good Advice,

I moved to the country last year and met Ralph, my neighbor down the road, (83 year old widower). He's been fighting the usual ailments of old age, so he dosen't like to spend much time at home alone, therefore, he stays up at his girlfriend's house most of the time. However, when he is home, I always enjoy visiting his place and talking to him. He has lived in my area most of his life and talking to him is like opening a rare history book and farming book full of facts and knowledge. If I have any questions concerning land care, Ralph usually has the answer. Many people just don't realize the value of knowledge that our elderly citizens have obtained through their life experiences. When you can rely on the elderly to teach younger folks, both age groups win, because the younger folks get valuable information, and the elderly get to feel the pride that comes from still being able to give a helpful hand.

Jim

 

[escavader]

Nice storys guys.
JSTPASSING,
Iwould say your brother lives close.Ask him if he knows where the old ARCHER FARM is in north chesterville.Im right next door.You confused me with the road name.There is the LUCY KNOWLES[part of rt 156] road and the KNOWLTON CORNER road.Both are close.Ive lived in the area all my life,i probably know him,or know his face.We aint got much snow here do we.When you were referring to MT BLUE you must have been talking about the HIGH SCHOOL not the mountains.Watch the roads from PHILLIPS to MADRID they are terrible rough.When you go up rt 4 and go through the village HARRYS IS THE 3RD on the right on the river,youll see the snow bankings,and the rv in the yard.
ALAN

 

[Jstpssng]

Escavader, we'll have to meet sometime. My brother's in-laws ran the old sawmill in Kingfield until her father passed away unexpectedly, just after my brother's wedding about 18 years ago.
They lived on McCrillis (sp?) Corner in Wilton for years before moving into their current home. (I don't give out personal information online. However if you know him, you'll recognise the details.) I used to frequent the HomeTown market, until she sold it. I've been there once since then... why do people from Mass. act like they're doing you a favor while they're taking your money? (No disrespect for people from that state, but I've experienced this in other places which have been sold, also.)
I actually meant Mt Blue the mountain... last Wednesday I had lunch at the base of the south slope. As a timber cruiser, the tower on the mountaintop was my compass sight for a stretch. We were coming in from Wilton though, Friday I compassed off the Cherry Hill road onto Saddleback mountain.

Have a good week. Mud season is here, Some of you will be tractoring full bore while the rest of us will be shutting them down and doing maintenance.

 

[escavader]

YEP,MY wife is familiar with your brother and wife.The girl that ran hometown market works for my wife now.I drive by every day on my way to work.ITS a small world aint it.Im 4 minutes from mcrillis corner.MTBLUE is nice,but the one next to it has better views[hurricane mt] Idrive my sled and atv up to the top.Of all in the area mt abraham is the prettiest.I do some climbing myself.Believe it or not,iclimbed cranberry peak on BIGELOW last saturday.at least part way on snowmobile. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifHeres a pic across mt blue pond of blue.
Sorry guys for drifting off topic,im yacking like an old woman. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifMy friend is home now,and very content,at least he didnt have many outside chores to do.
ALAN

 

[rox]

Alan,

It was very enjoyable for me to read your post as well as the conversation that followed. You ahve given me a most excellent idea! My father came to our olive farm for the harvest, he's 81. He can't wait to came back again next year. the way you talk about your neighbors, they seem like such nice people. I am thinking that I will talk to my husband and make an oen offer of anyone who wants to come to our olive farm next year to work on the harvest. They can stay for free, perhaps work 1 or 2 weeks and then have some r & r at our condo in Cannes, on the French Riveria. The only thing they would have to pay for would be their airfare.

Country folk, like my dad was raised on a farm in Fond Du Lac Wisconsin, enjoy the experience, the harvest. Come on over we will give you a warm bed and 3 square meals a day, work on the olvie harvest, then take some R & R. Do you think people like your neighbors would be interested in that sort of arrangement?

I only want really nice people. People who are in it just to get a freebie I am not interested in. I would rather have paid help. We pay some of our help and some are freinds and family. The harvest starts around November 5 and goes through the first or second week of December. I will sit at the same table with the people, share the work, share the food and fire at night, I really only would liek people like your Harry Dad. What do you think of my idea, sorry to hijack the thread, but others are welcome to join in. I'll looka t your responses and then depending, open a seperate topic so I dont' totally hijack your thread.

I know it did warm your heart to be able to give back to Harry Dad. So sad about his grandson, please make sure an post an update on him.

 

[escavader]

ROX,
Thats a mighty generous offer,but when he owned a place in florida,I couldnt convince him to fly down.I was even gonna take and pick them up at the airport,but he refused to get on a plane /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifHe is one of those people whom has always done for himself,a jack of all trades,and has taught me to do the same...never hire nobody when it can be done your self. I think he would rather have his teeth pulled ,before getting on a plane /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifYour writings,remind me that there are a few good people in the world,you would like by your side,and alot you wouldnt.Harry told me once ."there are givers and takers in this world" He is exactly right, think about those you know,every person fits in one of the categorys or the other.HARRY DAD is the biggest giver i ever met.
ALAN

 

[rox]

Oh my G*D!!! When we were quite young, my husband told me, "Honey there are really only 2 kinds of people in the world, Gvers and Takers" I had never thought of that before and many many times since he told me that I have noticed it. There really are only 2 kinds of people in the world. This is such a coincidence that Hary Dad sais the same thing.

I would say my husband is a much sharper judge of people than I am. Being a giver I just naturally assume everyone is like me. Surprise, they ain't. My husband sees that much earlier on than I do.

Well please tell harry Dad that if he would like to come to France the end of October any time through the first 2 weeks of December that we would have a bed for him and his wife. Sure he would works some but then he would play some also. One thing I have found out about country peopel theya re much more interested in coming to France if they are going to the countryside. They feel comfortable that theya re in their own element. Even if you are right, please do wait until you find out what the situation is with the grandson, but then please let him know that based entirely on your recomendation of his charachter, we would love to have him and his bride at the olvie farm during the harvest this fall.

 

[escavader]

I will tell them.Hes also is very knowledgeble about honey bees,and hives and stuff.Do you need bees for olives to grow?Excuse me for my ignorance,but all we grow here in MAINE are berrys,and apples,potatoes,and other veggies.
ALAN

 

[rox]

Thanks! Wedon't need bees for olives, however we do need them for our almond crop. We have 125 almod trees and we make pretty good oney selling green almonds. I saw my first bee yesterday as a matter of fact.