Car Keys
by R. Craig

  You have probably figured out that I enjoy talking about the "good old days" and you would be correct. I think we all try to remember the good times in our lives and put the bad times in the back of our minds. Have you ever been daydreaming about something funny that happened to you and started laughing out loud? 

 In our last meeting I was talking about the good memories I had getting started in the car repair business and a couple of memorable moments came to mind that I would like to share with you. 

 I mentioned the last time about how my buddies and I would hang out at a local gas station and help out pumping gas and cleaning up the place and so on. When things got quiet later in the evening we would empty the work bays out and clean the floors. Back before the days of strict environmental rules we were allowed to use a cleaning solvent to clean the grease off of the floors. It did a great job and left the floor smelling clean. 

 One particular evening we had finished with the floor and then had to bring all the equipment and displays we had put outside earlier. The last thing to come inside was a wrecker. If I remember correctly it was a 1956 Ford 5-500. It had a large boom on the back  that cleared the door opening by maybe an inch. It was a very tight fit all the way around. I drove the truck  inside for the night with no problem  but for some reason that I cannot remember I had to back it up. I did not notice  that the overhead door had dropped down about six inches.  I backed up and heard the most horrific crashing sound. The wrecker boom that barely cleared the door had caught the bottom of the all glass and aluminum door. There was glass and metal everywhere. 

 I got out and just stood there looking at the damage in shock. Someone called the owner and he came right down to see for himself. He called me names I didn't even know existed! He was quite upset and I couldn't blame him. 

 I had to "camp out" in front of that door all night until it could be repaired the next day. You only make that mistake once in a lifetime and it never happened again. I can laugh about it now but it was not funny at the time. 

 Here is another I had forgotten. After graduation from high school I got my first full time job as a mechanic. I worked at another local gas station pumping gas and doing minor repairs. I loved my job and found myself hanging out at the shop sometimes in the evening for something to do. On one particular evening I was there with a friend and the person working the evening shift. we were in the office and were expecting a phone call from a girl we were competing over. The phone was in the corner of the front office which was all plate glass on the front and sides like most gas stations were at the time.  

 The phone rang and all three of us said at the same time, "I got it!" We ran for the phone and collided together with one of us falling into the plate glass window which cracked and then broke apart. Here we go again. We called the owner and he came right down. He was not happy but he took it better than I thought he would. No one had to "camp out" at this window that night. We were able to patch it up with plywood until repairs could be made.

 Here are two examples of events that I had forgotten about. I am sure that there are more that will come to mind. I like to share them because when you think you are having a bad day, it could always be worse.

 Could you imagine me working for a glass company? I don`t think so!