Im one of the more fortunate people I guess. I can only think of one teacher, I had, that wasnt excellent so Im not going to talk about a teacher in the normal sense of the word.
I have two teachers who have taught me a great deal in life.
The first one was my boss and friend: a farmer who hired me to help him run the farm after his own children had grown up and moved on with their lives. I was thirteen at the time: clueless and full of piss and vinegar.
I worked for Dick for almost five years; leaving only when I had graduated from high school and was set to head off to college.
My first few jobs were manual labor type jobs: putting in fence, digging the post-holes and stretching the wire. But it wasnt long my first summer in fact before I was running the machinery and hauling corn into town.
Even at that young age I knew that it took an enormous amount of trust to let a thirteen year-old kid operate $100,000 equipment. It gave me a real sense of belonging and helped me develop a life-long love of responsibility.
Dick taught me how to weld, taught me how to work on machinery and taught me how to craft our own inventions. In the winter we would work on projects for the next years use and do general maintenance on the equipment.
He and I built two separate inventions that greatly helped ease the workload once they were completed. I was fourteen when we finished the first invention and one early spring day Dick told me that someone would be coming to take a look at our newest piece of equipment. I didnt ask who, as I just assumed it was one of the local farmers who wanted to see how the item worked, so he could build one himself.
I was really surprised to see one of the big farm magazines reporter show up later that afternoon. I figured Dick would have me do something while he talked to the magazine guy, but he insisted that I stayed for the interview. The guy took our pictures and took pictures of our invention before he left.
I didnt think much about the interview after that; I just assumed that the entire article would be about the invention and Dick. I had been asked a few questions, but I really thought the reporter was just being nice to me.
Later, when the magazine came out, Dick asked me if I had read the article. I hadnt done so yet, but made it a point to read it during lunch. I was really excited at the thought of seeing our invention in the magazine, but got the shock of my young life when I found myself featured prominently in the article. Not only had Dick allowed me to be around for the interview; he had insisted that I be given much of the credit for the invention.
I didnt deserve the credit; I had helped to build it, but the invention was entirely Dicks idea.
I learned something about selflessness that day, and I learned how good it feels when someone is willing to share their glory with you.
Over the next two years I was included in another magazine article (the second invention) and on a short Television blurb -I was the only kid at a $100 a plate event for the Governor- all thanks to my friend, and boss, Dick.
Dick died several years ago. Ill never forget how much he helped me in those years we spent working together and I cherish the well-used (some would say, abused) PAL knife that I traded him for. He was one of the smartest men Ive ever known, he could build just about anything and he was truly a self-made man. He hadnt finished high school and started his adult life with absolutely nothing to his name.
Dick was, and is, my hero. I am thankful to have had the honor of calling him my friend.
The second teacher is unconventional to say the least.
In 2001 I was infected with Lyme disease. I knew I had it, but did nothing about it; I didnt seek medical attention because I was wrongly informed that Lyme disease was no big deal.
By 2007 I was so ill that I could no longer function. I couldnt walk without assistance, I stuttered like a drunk when I spoke and I couldnt control my extremities with any degree of normality.
Life, at that point, began a downward spiral that just snowballed. I had no income (once disability ended) and none of my so-called friends ever bothered to ask how I was.
It was as though I had died and the rest of the world moved on. All my accomplishments meant absolutely nothing and I was suddenly nobody with nothing to offer.
I was very ill and becoming more depressed by the day.
That summer, one of our half-wild cats gave birth to a litter of four kittens. The dominant kitten a male would cry like crazy when my wife took him away from her chest. I thought it was funny and teased her that he was a Boob man and that Id have to get him a subscription to Playboy magazine.
The name Boobman stuck, though we altered it somewhat and called him Boo-Man for the sake of the neighbors kids.
A few weeks later, Boo-Man became deathly ill. He couldnt walk and he refused to eat. I stayed up with him for three days solid; forcing him to drink water and making sure he could nurse without being pushed away by the other kittens.
I think he had probably ingested some of the herbicide my wife had put on the weeds growing in our brick sidewalk.
Boo-Man survived and became my constant companion for the next four years. I truly believe he knew I had saved his life and he wanted to save mine in return. He never once scratched me, never got angry with me and always made me feel as though I mattered.
A little over one month ago, I was at the neighbors house having coffee. Normally, Boo-Man would wait on their doorstep for me, but he wasnt there when I left. Walking up to my driveway, I saw him lying at the end of the driveway. His head was in a pool of blood: some speeding a-hole had hit him (he was terrified of cars, so I know it had to be somebody driving very fast or someone who hit him with a club).
I wont lie I cried like a baby and Im tearing up now just thinking about it.
I buried Boo-Man by a Butterfly bush that he liked to take naps near and am currently in the process of carving him a marker. I promised him that Ill be there soon and that well take naps together just like the old days.
My neighbors talk about all that I did for Boo-Man.
I know better: I know he did far more for me than I ever did for him.
He taught me that I still mattered. He taught me what unconditional love really is and he taught me how precious a real friend is.
I miss you, Boo.
Ill see you as soon as Im done here.
Love, Grampa
