I Hit The Jackpot Today!!!!!

I got a call at 7:30 am from a elderly fella I have got a lot of computer scrap from. Last week he needed a couple older parts and I happened to have them. I gave them to him since he has brought me a lot of computer scrap.

Over the last couple years we have developed a a relationship. He is 89 and stops by the shop 2 times a week to have a cup of coffee and chat up my Dad and I for a minute. He loves what we do. He is always saying I should take time off and enjoy life for a minute now and then. Of course I simply tell him that for now I have to work so that when I get his age I won't have to. We always have a good laugh.

He asked me if I would do a pick-up for him at his brothers house. His brother passed a couple weeks ago. I went over there and he said he was cleaning out a shed and could not do it alone. First he gave me a bunch of scrap metal. Then he gave me 4 electric chairs of different types. All of them still work and are nice. he said he just wanted them gone and did not want anything for them. They are freaking HEAVY!

Then we go to the very back of the shop and there is a HUGE aluminum Johnboat with a crazy looking motor on it. He tells me to hook up to it and get it gone. Of course I told him I could not afford it. It is a nice boat. He said it is scrap to him and he wanted the shed cleaned out before tomorrow morning.

I tried to offer him some money for it and he simply refused. We asked him over to the house for IOWA pork chops and we had a wonderful dinner. He gave me a title and all of the paperwork for the boat, motor and trailer. He said he knew all about hard work a struggling and that through out his many years he had score a few good shots once in a while also.

He made me promise to go fishing with my folks. I have arranged to take Friday, Saturday and Sunday off next week to go fishing with my folks on the Mississippi.

I am overwhelmed and amazed by people like Sam. The good keeps coming. I offered to take Sam with us, but he said he would not get in a boat. He said to just bring some fish home.

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Here are a few pics of the boat. They are not very good and fail to show how very big this thing is. i will get better pictures later.

Wow!! Congrats on the score! Your friend sounds like a really cool guy! Set him up nice with the fish!!

Wow, that motor is something else! He have any insight on it?

nice score

nice score!!! never ceases to amaze of the good folks we got here in Iowa not that there isnt elsewhere lol and he is right too gotta take some time out and enjoy the. moments!

Cool deal earl! There's a specific reason for that motor being like that, but, haha, I can't remember what it was ; )

hey that is awesome.. way to go.. and that was kewl of him to give you that boat..

The reason why that motor is like that is for shallow fishing.. or rocky lakes.. or going thru narrow channel.. have you watch.. swamp on TV.. not sure which one use it.. but its great for moving around in narrow channel and seaweed infested area.. you can rasie the motor out of the water.. and while its running and spin the slop off the prop and lower right back in.. They are really
kool motors..

again.. Nice score.. and you best bring him some fish.. and a six pack of beer to sit and enjoy them fishies.

Nice!

Earl, you were blessed with wayyyyyyyy more than what is in the pics! SAM...is the kind of man I want to be, when I get growed up ta 89! We have had all of these posts about how people are getting screwed and hurt by other humans...then we get a post like this and BAM...there are still "Sam's" in this world, and I am encouraged!!

Next weekend, weather permitting, you better be out, IN DAT BOAT WITH FAMILY, EVEN...if you get a call for the "mother-load"! There will always be another pickup, load to chase, yada yada, but if you want to pay Sam for that boat, share some pics and stories of how great a time you had with family in it! To not make the time, would be an insult to his generosity!!!

Most of us like to "give" and find it hard to be on the receiving end. To have a "Sam" come along and give us something, with no motives or agenda, is a lesson in learning how to graciously accept, and simply say, thank you.

Just a quick story. Back in 1987 when I started the printing company, I did it with nothing. Had no savings, no cushion to fall back on, etc. The day I started I had one little press, a bunch of paper, and a BIG GARBAGE CAN to put all the waste in. I was so excited to get started, I parked my car in a no parking zone during morning rush hour. The car was ticketed, towed and impounded! YIKES! I had like 20 bucks and was freakin.

Went to a gathering at my parish that night. Was standing around just talking to some friends. This little Italian woman I had never met before, walked up, said hello, and stuck some folded money in my pocket. Being a pretty large size male human with a big ego, I handed it back to her and said, I don't need that. This little woman stood tall, put it back in my pocket and literally yelled...WHO DO Y O U ...THINK Y O U ARE... TO DEPRIVE ME...OF THE PLEASURE OF GIVING!!! The room went silent and everyone was looking over at us. I did not know what to say. SHE SCHOOLED ME BIG TIME! She said...how do YOU feel when YOU give? Responded with, wellll pretty good. To which she said, AND YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT FROM ME? ummmm no ma'am, thank you! She said, that is all you ever have to say when someone wants to do something for you...THANK YOU! Never saw her again.

That night changed my life! She was a "Sam" of sorts. Since then I have been able to give often, but also have been in positions where I have had to say, Thank you often.

I pray that the boat, and all the good times with family, will lead you to be keep being a "Sam" to others! You know, the ole ... pay it forward thing.

Enjoy the blessing! +++BroJer

I am still in shock this morning. I am so very grateful for Sam's kindness.

I found out this morning at breakfast that my Mother had told Sam a while back that she was happy that we have been busy,
but that it did not seem like I had much time for fishing with her now. I almost started crying right there and probably will later when I think about it again.

My Mother is 72 and I used to go fishing with her at least once a week all summer. My folks go to Texas every winter because my Mother can't handle the cold any more.
She always kids me that aside from seeing the Grandchildren going fishing was one of the reasons she came home to Iowa every year.

Boy do I feel like an idiot! I feel like fate has a funny way of righting things I do wrong sometimes. In a recent post somebody asked something like "What You Need Most For Your Business".
I think I replied more hours in the day. I was wrong folks. What I need is to remember that I have family and friends that have needs too.

In the future I will take my Mother fishing at least once a week no matter how busy I am. Success is not only measured in what kind of return I get on my scrap. I have dropped the
ball BIG TIME and what Sam gave me yesterday was far more than a boat. As BroJer said 'HE SCHOOLED ME BIG TIME"!!!!

Thank you for all of your kind comments,

Mike

P.S. My Grandfather used to tell me when he was alive, "If you feel guilty, it is usually because you are....."

Always looking for that balance...and just when you think you're there something tips the scale.

Great story for any day, especially Monday Morning.

NOW THATS A SCORE! RIGHT THERE. Before I came to SMF, I was a member of a John Boat to Bass Boat conversion forum, I was on that site every day looking at all the different boats, it gave me alot of ideas for my bass tracker that I was redoing, I would be in heaven if I got a score like that lol! I'd make that my bow fishing boat and have my regular boat as my regular fishing boat.

Love the story. I too met a nice elderly man and bought my 7x16 trailor from him and a great price. props to you and your family and plz tell that nice man that all of us appreciate a wonderful person like him.