I hope this day finds you all doing well. This week has flown by just like the rest seem to. I did take a couple hours from my schedule and visited a friend of my late Dad's. You read about White & Bradstreet in a previous newsletter. Mr. Joe Bradstreet, the previous owner, who at 84 is still up and about and is always ready to show off his prized antique vehicles.
Per his instructions, I called ahead one afternoon to make sure he was up for a visitor and indeed, he was. Joe told me just to knock on the door and come on in, which I did along with a big loud "hello" just as I opened the door. In today's age, I'm always leery of jumping someone or being identified as the wrong person when walking into a dwelling without being greeted at the door.
It is my understanding that gun sales are brisk with more people arming themselves than ever. It would be horrible to walk into a home and be greeted with a double barrel before you even got a chance to say "hi!" Thus the loud "hello", before I really entered Joe's home. When I heard his voice holler, "come on in!" I knew I was all set.
Joe was on the couch watching a western from the '40's or 50's. I sat down beside Joe and we started up a conversation. I felt like he was hollering at me and I was hollering back. In fact, we were until Joe turned down the volume on the tv. We chatted about my Dad and Joe pointed out how good a guy he was.
I quickly agreed and Joe went on to tell me a story that I have heard a hundred times before but only from people who knew my Dad back in the '40's.
My Dad Leslie operated a company owned Texaco station on Bangor Street in Augusta when he got out of the service towards the end of WW II. The story goes that Dad saved up all the $2 bills he received at the station and eventually bought a brand new vehicle with four hundred $2 bills. How about a new car for $800? I know it seems inexpensive, however everything was relevant.
Joe shared with me how lonely he was and how long the days were since his wife of over 60 years passed away in the last year or so. I can not imagine what a day must be like with little to look forward to. I'm not saying this is Joe's case but there are many people out there that face this reality every day. Joe has a housekeeper and a daughter who tends to him regularly but nonetheless there is a lot of free time in the rest of the day.
As part of my visit, I asked if Joe was up to showing me his trucks and indeed, he was. We went slow for Joe is legally blind but with the aid of a cane, he does quite well. It got a little tricky once in the garage, when we went out behind the vehicles and there were items on the floor. I quickly realized that we should be out in front of the vehicles where there was less clutter making it easier for Joe to navigate. What tipped me off was Joe, while holding his cane out in front of himself at ground level, was picking up the items before he came upon them.
Joe was so quick to go into detail on who restored each vehicle and how much it cost. He would tell me the make, model, the year and where he bought the vehicle. And trust me, each one had a story. It was my most relaxing hour and half of the week and was much needed. I would call this a "win-win". Thank you Joe for your time and sharing your knowledge with one who is so interested in
the previous generations, how they lived their lives and how they have held onto the values that made this country so great. I'll never forget that afternoon in 2012.
If you know of an older person or someone who is shut in for any number of reasons, pick up the phone, give them a buzz or possibly just drop in to say "hi". I know you will make their day, Joe said I made his.
1947 Ford F-600 VE Dunn and Joe Bradstreet
Mack 1960 - Joe's Favorite!
Old Gas Station Signs from Roland Gentner of Boothbay Harbor
V8 Flathead 1937 Cadillac Model 62
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Hope to see you soon, thanks for following us through our newsletter. One thing I know for sure, is that our Dine-ah Pot Roast is back on Thursday nights for the season.
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Norm
