“PLEASE… JUST LET ME TRY”
I was inspired by Thotman’s wonderful blog, “A simple philosophy” which he posted a week or so ago. It reminded me of an experience I had years ago while my dad and I were pulling mobile homes. I had left the story as a comment in Thotman’s space. He thot that it was worth blogging. My words here are nothing special, but my experience back then, and the lesson I learned from it were memorable. So here is another work story from long ago.
17 years ago, I spent a year pulling mobile homes. Mostly, I was hooked on to a new unit from the factory headed to the dealer’s lot. But occasionally, my mobile home toter was strapped onto what we called "a secondary". These used (usually old) mobile homes were always alot more work to move, because they were old, had tire and axel problems, and because we had to deliver them to somewhere besides a nice dealers lot.
I was attached to the nightmare of all nightmares. It was an old run down mobile home which needed to be delivered to Stanley Idaho. Actually to a remote outpost for some sort of camp in the mountains around Stanley.
The road up the mountain was like a sidewinder snake. I could see the back of my house from the cab of my truck as I made the sharp turns. Finally, I arrived at the destination. That was worse. The small crew got the man in charge for me. We walked through the trees and over a creek, and up the side of a rocky mountain side to a plateau to the place where he wanted the house placed. There was no road, not even a trail or foot path.
I told him no way. I can’t take my truck up through there. Eventually I convinced him that I had gone as far as I would with that load. He then asked me to just stay and give advice as he and his crew pulled it up with his tractor. At least it wasn’t my truck being ruined, so I agreed.
His little tractor was too small to even carry the weight of the house. Let alone pull it up the mountain. And his crew told him so, in no uncertain terms. He patiently listened to all of our objections while he brought his tractor over to chain up.
As he chained the mobile home hitch to the small backhoe bucket of his tractor, we all told him again that his tractor is too small, the mountain side too steep, too rocky, too … He stopped us all with one request… "You may be right, but please just let me try." We started cooperating with him. And I wasn’t the only one who stood in amazement as he repeatedly lowered the outriggers of the tractor and pulled the house three feet at a time to where he wanted it.
For my entire 4 hour drive home I thought about what I had just witnessed. It was impossible, but he had placed that house where he wanted it about an hour after he said, "YOU MAY BE RIGHT, BUT PLEASE… JUST LET ME TRY. Maybe I’ll go try something impossible today.
Thanks again for the story. I’m totally amazed, I can almost picture the man pulling it up the hill.
When I read the title to your blog I thought you were going to tell a story about when you were just a little tyke growing up. You were a very determined fellow and always took on tasks that everyone else thought impossible. Maybe that’s why this guy impressed you so much. He reminded you of yourself.
Hi Ron~Yes, lets all try something impossible. Hmmm. I see Val did a nice blog on being a Farmer girl. That was cute. Just came by to see what’s new. Hope you and your wonderful family are enjoying the weekend.
Hugs,
~Linda~
Hi Ron,
Good story, I am afraid I am one of those people who give up too easily. But I suppose it depends on the project – everyone has different talents. Which brings me to the comment I came to make… even though you don’t have to cook because your wife is so good at it you should know that there is nothing more attractive to a woman (especially one who cooks a lot) than a man cooking for her – no matter what he makes!!! Keep that in mind,lol.
I loved reading this at Mr. Thotman’s – I loved reading it again. This weekend I had the opportunity to share a lot of laughs and to meet some wonderful people – one gentleman shared a story that illustrated a similar "can do" attitude. He wanted to be an underwater welder, his brother said "YOU can’t do that, YOU’LL never be able to make it …" – Guess what he does for a living… 🙂
It’s ironic, really. I have two sons that have the two types of personalities you illustrated here. One says, "You may be right, Mom, but please let me try." The other says "Why put so much effort into something that will never work." I am the relentless type. The situations that seem unsurmountable have to have an easier way of doing things. It may take a while for me to think it all through and get it figured out. I eventually do most times. Then when I can’t do it myself is when I ask for help. My wonderful father taught me that. Thank you, once again, for sharing this story. You have brought back to me some pretty wonderful memories. Love to the family.
I love all your stories, especially the ones about work. You know eggsactly what to say and I am eggstatic about reading your true life stories. Hee Hee!
😀 big smiles and lots of encouragement… we face yet another long work week – it’s Monday tomorrow! thanks for stopping by my place!
Great story. I’ll think of that when I have an impossible task that needs to be done and it will remind me not to quit. I wonder if he realizes he made an impact on you that day.
Did nt Frank Sinatra sing about :’ he’s got hi-i-igh hopes, he’s got hi-i-igh hopes}{He’s got high apple pi-i-ie-in-the-sk-y-y hopes.’ ?