This is the third entry into the November challenge hosted by Debe Maxwell, CRS about our gratitude.
My Dad was not a formally educated man in any sense of the word. He was dedicated to his family, his siblings and his friends. Literally nothing he would not do for people even if he had to sacrifice himself. He was a fair man who measured a man by his ability to perform his job, period! He made no other judgement of people and made friends easily.
At the outbreak of WWII he volunteered for service but was turned down because of varicose veins on his calfs. As a result he was able to continue working in the auto body repair business. It was hard times to obtain parts because car factories were producing war time equipment. He was asked to repair a two door ford coupe and could not get parts, so he got a used 4 door total loss from a junk yard and and used the back half to give the car back as a four door. In his mind, it was war time and the man needed his car. The guy liked it, or that was what I was told some years later.
He never took the keys out of the ignition. Everyone in the neighborhood could use it after 6 at night and before 5 in the morning or even at other times if they asked. When I was old enough I asked why? Simple, he said, I am not using it so it is available. Times were different and theft was never an issue.
He often loaned his tools and most times never got them back. He bought new ones. If they need them that badly his conclusion is they were a gift. Always help others when you can. That was a lesson that developed in me as a sales manager, helping others build a career. Never really thought about why until this challenge brought up some old memories of the wisdom imparted by my Dad. Have missed him for over 50 years and still do daily.
So Thanks for the memories via your challenge, Debe Maxwell, CRS!
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