19 Comments
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Jo Burns's avatar

Thanks, Walter! I miss the old cars and their never give up attitude. You may have to stop and tighten a few nuts and bolts and replace a battery ir belt once in awhile. It was doable. Now the crowed under hood doesn't let the side yard mechanic fix it! Too complicated. Your writing also reminds me of the Serenity Prayer...God grant me the wisdom to know when I can and when I can't. Have a blessed Fathers Day!

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Walter Rhein's avatar

It's also good to work on a $200 truck because if you screw it up, you're only out $200! I have the same thoughts about my house :)

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Jo Burns's avatar

🤣🤣🤣

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Teri Gelini's avatar

Truth

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Tobinski's avatar

That’s right around the time of the quotes, FORD, “Fix Or Repair Daily’ were wrote along with “Found On Roadside Dead’

Those trucks…. Are still out there hauling ass. Along with ourselves there Pops

Happy Father’s Day.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Haha! Thank you!

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Greg Sanford's avatar

KISS Theory. Keep It Simple Stupid

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Haha, that's good too!

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Fred Johnson's avatar

My first car was a used, 1969 VW bug. Like working on a lawn mower. A basic lawn mower.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Yes. It's good for kids to tinker with motors a little bit. I'll have to take apart my old lawn mower with my daughters.

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Fred Johnson's avatar

I started with Tinker Toys. And Lincoln Logs. Advanced to erector set. My brother couldn ‘t hook his foot on my creations while walking by anymore. Then to Estes model rockets - often doing most of the things they warned about doing.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Yes. I’ve never once used a product for the purpose for which it was intended :)

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Fred Johnson's avatar

Usually I use toothpaste as it was intended, although my brother used to use it to plug little holes in the walls when vacating an apartment during his college days..

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Teri Gelini's avatar

My dad had me mowing the yard at 12-13. I was always interested in outside stuff, mowing, yard word with tools and eventually helping the boyfriends working on their cars. Girls need to learn some basic mechanics, there is not always a guy too do it. Hope you teach your girls some basic.They will thank you for it

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Teri Gelini's avatar

Mine was a 1963 VW bug, same engine.

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Danny Hoback's avatar

Fun! Takes me back to a 55 Plymouth

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Sarah3000's avatar

Walter,

There is a lot of wisdom in this story. We often get stuck and have to find a way to solve problems. But the main point is to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other until you get where you need to go. The whole point is to figure out what is critical in that moment and do what you can to fix it.

Happy Father's Day!

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Absolutely! Also, there's a lot of complexity that's not, strictly speaking, necessary. :) Thanks so much for your kind words!

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Sarah3000's avatar

Yes, we tend to make things more complicated than they really are. It's more about figuring out the main problem first. As they say, don't sweat the small stuff.

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