Howdy!

 A welcome and sudden realization hit me about two weeks ago..... I'm on my own for Thanksgiving this year....:)  I'm actually looking forward to having the entire day to myself.... I plan to spend it driving the tractor, a John Deere 4020, I got from my Dad who got it from his Dad, my Grand-dad -- who purchased it new the year before I was born.  A lot of sentimental value there as he (Grand-dad) died suddenly when I was seven yrs old. I can remember riding in his lap with both our hands on the same wheel as he tried to teach me to drive.  -- I can also recall learning a couple of "new words" when I turned too sharp and gouged the rear tire on the corner of the hay trailer.... -- :)  I can remember my ears ringing from the noise; and reaching up to pull the knob for the "a/c" -- simply a small round fan mounted to the ceiling of the cab.  (I'm sure he paid extra for tha fan.. but it didn't do much!  :)

 I recall that his favorite shirt was a gold colored long-sleeved, pearl snap work shirt, that he couldn't wear a wrist watch b/c his body had too much electro/ magnetism or something weird like that... all his watches would stop working after a day or two.  I remember that he used to love saltine crackers with his orange or lime sherbet after dinner.  I recall being pulled around on an old black pickup truck hood behind his red Willys Jeep on snowy, cold Christmas days after the grand kids were done opening presents.  I recall him building my brother and I large wooden toy boxes with his own hands, which I still have, use, and treasure today. 

 Lot of memories associated with that old tractor... I try to remember that when I'm covered with grease and dust, sweating and cussing it as I repair something!  He-he!!  I always have to silently apologize to Grand-dad b/c I know he had to work hard to afford it and Dad took such great care of it all these years.... now it's my turn!  An honor!!

So, getting back to where I started....

I'm looking forward to the "peace and quiet" of nothing but the tractor engine as I move round hay bales for the entire day!   Seems like I live my life in three minute increments now... anybody remember that song  Alabama released a few years ago...??  "I'm in a hurry to get things done, I rush and rush until life's no fun... All I really have to do is live and die, but --- I'm in a hurry and don't know WHY."  I really enjoy being out at the ranch, life slows down out there.... it's quiet, plenty of deer to look at, toys to play with like 3-wheelers, four wheelers, tractors, all with their own memories attached to them.  Heck of a wonderful story behind my three-wheeler!!

So, the rare opportunity to just sit back on a cool south Texas November evening, look over the valley near our place and just watch the world go by will be a lot of fun!!  I fully intend to leave my mobile phone in the cabin at the ranch!!  :)  Can't hear it ring inside the old tractor cab anyway.  Then, when the job is done..... I'm going to sit on the hood and look out across the still green valley at the hills far away and listen to my ears ring for the next half hour.... or, while driving, I just might cheat a little bit and take my Sony Walkman CD player so I can temper some of the racket inside that cab--(yep for a 37 yr old, I'm pretty old fashioned -- nope, I don't have an Ipod).  It's odd to me that the familiar "bells ringing" in my ears after i crawl out of that cab always feels so good to me... brings back pretty neat memories!

So, from Bryan/ College Station --- Happy Thanksgiving y'all!!  :)  I trust we will each enjoy it in our own ways!

Brent

ps..... Thanks Grand-dad and Dad for the tractor!!  Yep, my 10 and 8 yr old are already driving it!!  ;)