2200 pound dog

A short post- last night we were sitting around and Papa was telling stories. Lots of stories about growing up on the farm, dogs helping to herd the cows, horse stories and even a little bull- no, literally. He mentioned going to the fair and taking his bull- a 2200 pound bull. He led him by the nose and took him to the fair.

Time came for a parade at the fair and he set off to lead his bull in the parade. Other bulls were groaning at it (not sure that is the right term but for me it best describes the sound being made to relay the story). His dad said "Are you sure you want to bring that bull in the parade?". Papa replied that he did and set off with the bull.

The funny statement of it all was when he said about the bull "he was just like a dog". Sure, a dog that weighed a ton! I am sure there are more details to this story but here is the place holder to add to it.

Close Call

Most of the stories from Papa have been told and retold so that we have come to know them. This provides a chance to pick out some new detail each time and add to the experience. But, not so long ago he told one that I don't recall. I am not sure I have it completely right, since I have only heard it once, but here is how it goes.

Papa was on the farm milking a cow when a gentleman (banker perhaps?) who was well dressed stopped by. He came to the barn and held a conversation while Papa continued about his chores. The well dressed man happened to lean against the wall while talking. The wall behind the cow.

Now as the story goes, and the lesson is learned, you shouldn't stand behind a cow very long. It seems that during the milking the cow built up some gas and let one fly- literally. A discharge shot out of the hind end of the cow and splattered on the wall just next to the well dressed man.

Papa's statement, "He got lucky".

Buns for lunch!!

The Papa referred to in the title is "Dad" to me, since I am one of his two daughters. As stated in the first post, Dad was a McDonald's owner/operator, first in the Baltimore area (1963-1969) and then in Richmond, which included Farmville, VA (1969 - 1986). I worked for him, first in the office and then in operations, eventually becoming a supervisor.

One of Dad's favorite stories is the day the Farmville store called the office, late in the morning, to say they didn't have enough Big Mac buns to make it through lunch. Being an hour's drive away, it was too late to try to drive to Farmville with the buns. Instead, Dad found that the store across the street from our office had more than enough Big Mac buns, so they could transfer some to Farmville. He called the Farmville store and asked if someone could meet him at the Farmville airport. Then, he got the buns and drove to the Chesterfield County airport. He flew the approximately 20-minute flight to Farmville, as pilot of his Mooney airplane, and delivered the Big Mac buns in time for lunch!! He saved the day (...and the possibility of lost business....)!!!

The Start

This is a new project to begin the recording, in a historical sense, of the stories of my grandfather. He has hinted over the years that he should write a book with all the tales of his life. We have gone to the extent of providing him various means of recording his stories but to date have not made great strides in memorializing these interesting, sometimes fascinating, adventures.

He is a self made man, born on a farm in Western Pennsylvania he tells of cows, plows and barns. But as a young man he had dreams and quickly outgrew the farm life. He began his own excavating business and can take you down a country road in PA and show you the basements he dug and yards he flattened, all with the motions he made years ago guiding his bulldozer over the land.

After several successful years of moving dirt and repairing his own equipment, he broke through during the pioneering days as an owner/operator in McDonald's. First in Baltimore, MD then in Richmond, VA, he was able to succeed again in life and expand his business portfolio and experience. Along the way there are stories of becoming a pilot, purchasing an antique fire engine which he drove in several parades and events to represent the McDonald's franchise and eventually moving into a new are of business by starting a Jiffy Lube franchise.

This blog is to celebrate his many stories and begin to save them for posterity and perhaps one day, for the book that he has longed to have written.