Our grandkids are off from school today, so we are honored with their presence at the Homestead. Computers in their hands, we may get to talk with them when it is snack or lunch time.
Saturday afternoon, following a well-deserved nap, I popped out of the Ford’s ole recliner and headed outside. What could a senior retired person do, that would not cause him pain later on? This senior person decided to remove the grass that was hanging over the edge of the driveway, curb, and side walk, along with a top layer of grass from the yard.
As I was mowing close to the neighbors drive, I noticed she was sweeping grass off her drive, as she had just mowed. I shut my mower off and I explained that I had a blower to remove the grass from the drive when I finished mowing. She asked if she should mow the grass along their drive way next to our house, or if I wanted to. I noted that they own about 2 feet along the drive, and it didn’t matter to me who mows it. I usually mow it even if she has mowed it.
She then said she broke their mower while mowing. I asked what had happened and she explained that she had knocked the grass deflector off. I asked where the mower was, noting that I can probably fix it. We walked to the mower and I replaced the deflector by first raising the cover that holds the deflector on, when this cover is down, it makes the mower a mulcher. She didn’t know the mulcher cover could be lifted. My good deed for the day!
I did mow along their drive way, and I did blow the grass off the drive.
I also loaned her husband my post-hole digger, so he could put a new mail box in. Wow, another good deed!
Why are ole senior people so nice?
Since no one asked, I will not tell you, that I received an email from the DVR Company saying they will ship a new one, asap. I am not going to tell you, I should get a tracking number in 5 to 7 days. I am not going to tell you, it seems to me as if they are not in a hurry!
A long time ago, I made a decision. Actually, it was 16 years ago when I executed this decision. I had made plans to move on this very difficult decision about 2 months prior to execution.
Back in 2003, I was general manager at the facility in Waco Texas, while at the same time temporary general manager at the Cape Girardeau facility. I would spend a week or two in Missouri and then return to Waco for a week or two. This went on for a while as the company looked for a new general manager for the Missouri facility. My last day as general manager at the Missouri facility was Friday October 3rd, 2003. Actually, I flew home from Missouri on October 3rd.
During this same time my son David, and his soon to be wife Claire, were in the process of planning a wedding. The wedding was to take place in Dallas Texas on Saturday, October 4th, 2003. I had decided to put my plan into action on Sunday at mid night, October 5th, 2003!
I feel reasonably sure that at least one of you may understand what my plan was, and why I needed to wait until my trips to Missouri had ended, and the wedding was over. The stress from work, and getting to the wedding, could have possibly caused me to fail!
I had decided to stop using tobacco, and kick the nicotine addiction. This was not a, “I am going to try to quit”, I decided “I was going to quit!”
On Monday, October 6th, 2003, when I put the trash can out at the curb, I also took a carton which had almost half a case of chewing tobacco, and set it on top of the trash container, the carton was open. Why did I have so much, I bought the tobacco wholesale?
For about two weeks I wanted to hurt everyone. I was in a very bad mood. I had told many people that I was quitting, and that was a good thing for me to do. Several of these people would ask me how I was doing and tell me they were proud that I quit. I even received phone calls from people in the corporate office asking how I was doing. Having friends ask and encourage me was very important.
Things got better as the months went by, but for the first year if I was around someone who was using chewing tobacco, I had the urge to backslide. Thank goodness I didn’t.
If you are addicted (trust me if you use tobacco you are addicted) and decide to quit, it will be one of the most difficult things you have ever done. If you do decide to quit, let me know, I will be there for you!
Don’t try to quit, decide to quit, set a date, and tell everyone.
Nicotine free for almost 16 years! Don Ford
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