With Regards: Archives ~
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With Regards: Archives ~ |
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This one is for the SCR Team who attended the 2000 PRO Summit at the Regency at McCormick Ranch on December 5 and 6. I must have been all of 7 or 8 on that still dark fall morning, when my Dad shook me awake. He said not a word but from the look in his eyes, I knew it was learning time. I got up, washed the sleep out of my eyes, brushed my teeth, dressed and went to the kitchen to find him. He was at the table eating one of his drop biscuits containing a piece of country ham (the original breakfast sandwich) and drinking a cup of coffee. He nodded toward the other place setting which contained a saucer with another biscuit and ham sandwich but, instead of the customary glass of milk, there was an empty coffee cup. Without a word he got up, went to the stove, picked up the pot which was simmering there, filled my cup about half full, and then refilled his own. After returning the pot to the stove, he sat back down, doctored his cup with both cream and sugar, pushed the fix’ins my way and I did likewise! To complete this new ritual, he picked up his cup, brought it to his lips, winked at me, took a sip and said: "um good." As that new day was being born Dad and I finished our breakfast, put the dirty dishes in the sink and I followed him out the back door. Once outside, Dad stretched a little, breathed in some of that fresh morning air through his nose, exhaled and said: "Yep, this is the day!" "What day?" I asked: "What’s so special about this day?" He looked down at me and replied: "This is the day we turn the Bottoms!" My heart leaped, because the "Bottoms" was a 5 acre field which flooded every year or so, but contained the richest (Ohio River Valley) top soil in the world and I had never been showed (taught) how to plow or allowed drive a hitch on my own. Off we went to the barn where Dad proceeded to harness "Old Gray" our mule and then the three of us began our trek to the Bottoms. When we got there, I was not surprised to find the "big" plow awaiting us with it’s massive curved blade gleaming from the morning dew. Dad hitched Gray to the plow, pointed to an old log near the side of the field and said: "Set, Watch and Learn!" He then placed the traces over his shoulders, chucked to Gray and they ambled off along the fence line. Then, as if by magic, the plow dug deeply into the soil and the first turn was made. The field was about one hundred and fifty yards long, so it took Dad and Gray about 8 or 9 minutes to get to the far end, make the turn and come back to where I set on that log. By then, the sun was full up and the smell of that, light chocolate brown fresh turned earth, had permeated the air. As Dad and Gray approached, I took a deep breath, suppressed a yawn and asked: "Can I try now?" "No!" he responded, "Watch us again.", and away they went to make another pass, and then another and another. Finally Dad realized that my "bottom" was getting tired and my attention was beginning to wander. After he make the turn he brought Gray to a stop and asked: "Are you ready to make some passes?" Was he kidding? I had waited all my life for this moment. Dad started to show me how to put the traces over my shoulder and I shrugged him off, knowing full well that I knew how to do it myself. I chucked to Gray and off we started however, the plow just began to skim over the surface of the field. I yanked back on the traces and Old Gray stopped. I looked over at Dad and he said: "You have to dig the point in." I chucked to Gray and off we went again skimming the surface. I tilted the plow handles up, the point bit deeply into that unplowed ground, yanked Old Gray to a dead halt, and me over the plow crossbar. "Not so deep!" he said from my log. I spit the dirt out of my mouth, squared everything up, chucked to Gray again and followed those instructions. It took another try or four and about half of that first row, but, I finally got it right, or so I thought. As I looked back down that row it looked like the path a Drunken Sailor. It seemed that I was so intent on watching the angle of the plow that I forgot to watch where Old Gray was going or, as it were, where I was driving him. By high noon both the mule and I were exhausted but, we had been able to make a few rows which were true. I had been so engrossed in the learning that I did not realize that Mom had joined Dad on that log or that she had brought lunch. I have had a few great meals in my life but, few as memorial as setting on that log with my parents, looking out over the part of the Bottoms which had been fresh plowed, and Old Gray providing the background with the swish of his tail. Boy did that Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich and Sweet Spring water taste good. The sun was setting over the Bottoms by the time we finished that field. It was almost Supper time when we got back to the barn to unhitch Gray and turned him out. Dad and I quickly washed off at the pump, and made it to the house just as Sister came to the back door to holler for us. Final thought A lot of "learning" occurred that day..... The obvious was the lesson on how to drive a mule with a big plow hitched to him and turn a field with rows which were true. The ones which bring a tear to my eye after all this time are, the coffee fix’in and how good a simple lunch could be. The less obvious was the lesson on teamwork. Yes teamwork. You see, that was the real lesson which my Dad was intent on teaching that day. Yes that is What Really Works! The combination of sences which allowed me to smell that freshed plowed earth, taste mom’s sweet strawberry jam and creamy peanut butter, feel the power of Old Gray transmitted through the rough handles of that plow and see the pride in Dad’s eyes as he sat on that log and watched me make turn after turn and pass after pass. The combination of a God Given Day, our "Bottoms", that big old Plow, a mule named Gray, that Loveone to bring a forgotten lunch, a Pop like no other and a Kid with stars in his eyes. What a team! Look out world. Oh’ Yes, I forgot to add to that list, the Disk Harrow, that Dad had to use to clean up and pulverize the mess I made of most of the field. Have to give credit, where credit is due cause...... That’s something else What Really Works! |
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Jerry Sikes, RRP / CHA, is President of Professional Resort Operators, Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona. He has 35 years in the Hospitality Industry / 25 years in Timesharing, and is the current Co-Chairman of ARDA Arizona as well as Chairman of the Arizona Timeshare Management Association. Jerry is a frequent guest speaker regionally and nationally on all aspects of Timeshare Management and a frequent contributor of articles for industry publications. Email: boyjerry@cox.net Phone 480-947-3300 Fax 480-947-6853 Web site: http://www.protimeshare.com |
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