I’ve always wanted to be a writer. While watching one of my idols, “Pioneer
Woman”, this morning, I decided writing a blog might be a great way for me to
get started and see if I have what it takes to write something that would
actually be interesting to others. I
hope what I write can be of support or inspiration to you.
This is Easter weekend.
Our office was closed on Friday, but for a Home Health Administrator it
doesn’t end there. Friday began with
phone calls from the DON, correspondence with my alternate Administrator and
overall worry throughout the weekend about the various problems that come with
the day to day operations of running an agency.
But today is a big day for my husband of 35 years, Robbie, and I’ve got
to try and put that behind me and get on with our plans.
Robbie has a 55 Ford F100 that he purchased from his
Grandfather in 1980. The truck was all original,
had very few miles on it, and still had a great paint job, even though paint color
was the light turquoise popular with this model that Robbie detested! He began work on the truck to bring it up to
current standards and someday paint it and make it a show truck. We envisioned
our weekends spent going to car shows and hanging out with the other antique
car/truck lovers. That was 34 years ago…..and we still aren’t
there yet. Granted, he did take about a
28 year break, while we raised our two children. Casey, now 28, and Taylor, 23.
The Truck has been in the shop for several months having
some of the major underbody of the truck re-done, before he could finish the
interior and have it painted. New
Electrical system, new brakes and brake lines, work on the carburetor, new
steering column and all new dashboard controls and a lowering kit. The work was complete and Good Friday was the
day we were to try and pick it up in Van, Texas, appx 45 minutes away. Robbie was nervous about driving the truck
home from that distance. As far as we
know, his grandfather never drove it more than a 30 mile drive to Palestine
from Jacksonville.
Upon arrival, the shop Owner, TJ, started the truck and
began showing Robbie all the work that had been done. They tinkered with some hoses and explained
about things Robbie would need to do pretty soon, such as add a cover for the
new fuel tank, now installed under the bed of the truck that had left a hole in
the bed. The truck seemed to run well
and Robbie loved the stance of the truck, it was now so low, that Robbie’s head
is above the cab when standing beside it….Just the way he wanted! Although the motor was not part of what they
actually worked on, there was concern and discussion that the old motor was not
going to hold up and would have to be replaced soon. Although TJ and his crew had given the truck
a test drive around the shop, they didn’t’ get above 20 mph. They were impressed that the engine seemed to
be holding up so well, oil pressure seemed to be good etc. During their hour long discussion, Robbie shared
stories about the truck, such as the fact that his Grandfather used to use a
touchup paintbrush to cover up any little scratches he got in the bed of the
truck while hauling the famous Jacksonville Tomatoes he grew on his Antioch
Farm to the Jacksonville market.
As Robbie shares stories with the shop staff, I’m having a
nice visit with TJ’s wife, Emily, – we have conversed over the phone as
payments were made over the past few months, but had never met in person. We find out we’ve got something in common,
she was a former marketer for a Home Health agency. We discuss the current status of home health,
regulations etc and then get on the subject of how TJ started his business and
how she got involved. Three years ago
they built this new shop and built their home above the business. Now they are adding on to the business by
building a small café and game room.
They also hope to host birthday parties and events there. She talks about how owning their own business
can be stressful, but it’s a different kind of stress than working for someone
else. I share with her that Robbie and I
have always longed to start our own business together, but could never agree on
what kind of business to start.
It’s finally the moment of truth as we make our last payment
and head down the road. A quick stop at
the corner convenience store for gas and we are on our way…..well…..we made it
at least 1 block. I’m driving behind
Robbie and he whips the truck into a store driveway, gets out looking @ the
truck and shaking his head. Uh Oh….this
does not look good. I get out and
cautiously walk up to the truck. Robbie
says that the oil pressure ceased to register when he got the truck up to 50
mph – after revving the engine and thinking for awhile we head back to TJ’s
shop, I can see the disappointment on his face. Diagnosis is that the truck needs a new
engine. TJ can order the engine, but
cannot put it in. Decisions need to be
made as to how to handle this. Robbie
decides to leave the truck behind and head back home. Always the optimist, I try to tell him that
we should be thankful that the problem occurred within a block of the shop and
not while we are out on Interstate 20.
He reluctantly agrees.
On the ride home, I broach the subject of our dream to start
our own business. Our daughter graduates
from college in 3 weeks and we’ve discussed my desire to retire from Home
Health and start a business. Her
graduation was a goal date I had in mind, since we won’t require as much income
as we did while supporting her through school.
He is still open to the idea, he has a stressful job as well, working as
a building superintendant for a local home builder. As we discuss various ideas – I see that we
are still not on the same page – Robbie wants a job where he can sit home in
his underwear and do something over the internet and doesn’t have to see
people. I want a job where I do work
with people, perhaps something providing a service.
I am a Christian and believe that God has a plan. I believe he allowed Emily and I to share
this conversation today, to inspire me to get busy on our dreams. Tonight I will go to bed with a prayer on my
lips that God will open my eyes and bring to the forefront of my mind an idea
that could be the answer to the desires of our heart. Stay Tuned!
