It’s been just over 10 years since Shari’s family held a farm sale to sell off the items that remained on her grandparent’s farm. Shari often mentions events from her life that occurred on the farm. It was the heart of the family for everything from a baby’s birth to birthdays and holidays and a few nights of sitting by a camp fire watching the stars with her brother and cousins.
I met Shorty in the early 90s. Shari and I drove to Newton for dinner with her dad, stepmother, brother and Grandpa Shorty. As dinners goes it offered many memories as it was one the few times I had spent time with her dad’s family. I was asked the usual questions about what I did for a living, my interests and hobbies and if I enjoyed hunting and fishing. Well, anyone that knows me could answer those last two questions with ease. I think the most memorable part of the night was as we said our goodbyes in the parking lot Shorty said to me “it was really nice to meet you Steve.” That’s when you know you’ve made a lasting first impression.
Over the years my appreciation for Shorty grew and I loved to hear him tell stories that apparently everyone in the family had heard a thousand times by the eye rolls. I learned as a kid that we can gain so much knowledge by listening to those that came from us. I didn’t grow up on a farm or really ever go to one but Shorty could tell stories for hours about farming, a life of working the land and raising kids in a time when a work ethic meant something more than a term in a campaign slogan.
While I couldn’t relate to many of his stories with our limited shared experiences I did hold on to two memories from his stories. The first was that “a loaf of bread is a true bargain even at today’s prices and that tires are still a good value based on price.”
As Shari and I talked about the day of the sale recently it was nice to hear some of her memories and the impact they’ve made on her life.
With that I’d like to share the story I wrote on that raining day in June of 2010…..
Monty on A Rainy Sunday 06/13/10
Montezuma, IA has played a significant part of Shari’s life from the beginning. It is her father’s hometown and the site of her grandparent’s farm. Memories run deep. The hay mounds in the barn, the cats and the fresh spell of food from the kitchen.
Today marked the end of an era as the family held the farm sale. The skies continued to provide rain and a mess for all attending. My guess is Shorty was controlling the weather today. It’s as if he was saying “what the hell are you thinking having the sale on a Sunday.” Shorty probably wouldn’t have cussed but it crossed my mind.
The family stood under trees and umbrellas or in the garage or one of the barns but couldn’t avoid the rain or the mud.
Over the loud speaker you could hear Colonel Bill Mason calling for a dollar bid on a box of memories. Bidders stood in the rain casting bid after bid on boxes that tell the story Shorty and Joann’s life. A bit sad, a life time of memories has been reduced to a box and a bid. The nice part is these material things will become a part of another family’s memories… or their next garage sale.
Walking around taking pictures I had an American Picker’s moment. Some pretty cool old trucks, a tractor and farm equipment. Of course much past the trucks I have no idea what the farm equipment was used for. Many items appeared to be older than Shari.
As I sit in my car along the highway cars and trucks line both sides of the highway as far as I can see. People stop to check-out what's for sale or maybe just another chance to say good bye to an era or a beautiful man. A era when farming was a family business and providing food for your family and a few others was a proud undertaking.
There goes two young women carting boxes to their truck. Too young to know the history of what they are carrying but excited enough to be taking today’s catch home.
In spite of the weather today is a wonderful day. Sad to close a chapter in our lives but excited to see a small piece being shared with others.
I believe the sun is breaking thru….
Until next time…. Drivin’ Ms Shari
July 14,2020
Comments