Oil tanker Great Eastern from foreign shores (couldn't make out the call port) heads back to sea out the mouth of the Creek early morning.
Old, rusted-out Sears bottom-of-the-line lawnmower, meet spanking new Sears bottom-of-the-line lawn mower. Tuck got 18 years of good service out of the faithful oldtimer. As is the custom here in Chelsea-by-the-Sea, he set Rusty out on the sidewalk, and within 45 minutes a couple of illegal alien types — Chelsea is a so-called "Sanctuary City" — had picked up the oldster and loaded him onto their pick-up truck to begin a new life of service. Imail snippet:
AMERICA! One man's trash is another man's treasure.
Unlike Democrats, God helps those who help themselves.
Update: More imail snippets post publication:
She: PERFECT counter-point to Democrats stuck on the escalator. It reminds me of that movie about the cars (which I haven't seen), but … the lives of machines. That old mower must be so happy!
We: Yes. Like dogs, they love to have a job!
She: Tears in my eyes, YES!
So much conservative compassion, so little time.
I like this. Lawnmowers that last 18 years!! That speaks well of your Tuck. My poor Bob has had his troubles with lawnmowers. One, he bought and put together started falling apart the first time he mowed.
When we moved to Panama we were advised to hire a gardener because our yard, especially in the back was jungle. We employed Isidro who spoke only Spanish and couldn't read but had a heart of gold.
He was young, very skinny and supported himself and his grandmother. He only missed work once when he went on a Catholic pilgrimage to a shrine in Panama. I had to learn Spanish in order to communicate with him.
We bought him shoes because he always came to work barefooted. When it came time for us to leave we worried about what would happen to him so my husband wrote a letter of recommendation for him in English and in Spanish and we gave him our lawnmower.
I still remember him in my prayers. I think it was people like Isidro that could have been hurt when the Americans pulled out of Panama.
Posted by: Laura Lee Donoho | October 05, 2008 at 01:16 PM
I'll bet Tuck can't wait 'til Spring.
Posted by: goomp | October 05, 2008 at 04:11 PM
My husband is a genius at keeping old things running well. The newest 'mechanical' thing we have is my 10 year old car with 140,000 miles on it.
Electronic things... we're not doing so well. The "expiration date" on them comes so much sooner. My computer is 8 years old. It is, in some respects obsolete, but still serving my surfing habits well. So far. I am having trouble with videos here and there.
Both our TVs are over 15 years old. When the picture tube blows on both of them, maybe we'll get a new HDTV setup.
Sometimes the dissonance between the flashy, shiny new and the serviceable old is harsh. Thorstein Veblen may require re-reading.
Posted by: Donna B. | October 06, 2008 at 02:46 AM
I was in the bookstore the other day.
"Can I help you find something?"
"Yes," I reply. "I'm looking for the self-help books. Where are they?"
"Over there in Aisle 12. Help yourself."
Posted by: Elisson | October 06, 2008 at 04:54 PM