The Website it up!! :)

Now that we have the car lot up and going, we finally put our current inventory on a website. Although there are some more cars either getting cleaned or that we are working on, this is on the lot...ready to go cars. Thanks.

http://summitviewautosales.blogspot.com/

My Hero

It's not often you come across a person that you admire so much you can title them hero. When you do interact with such a person I don't think your life is ever the same. I have one such man in my life that we both have been thinking about an awful awful lot lately...Grandpa Earl. What an amazing man. Unfortunately he is in the hospital and has been for three weeks. He will be 89 years old December 1st and is strong enough to survive a valve replacement surgery.
Nov. 2 he was admitted to the VA with chest pain that turned out to be a narrowing of his aortic valve (his valve was only the diameter of a needle). He explained to the cardiac staff that he has lived alone since Grandma Billie passed away 15 years ago and needs his independence. He was a construction superintendent (I think that was his title, but you get the jist of it) and is a strong old bugger.
I just can't stop thinking of the life he lead. He married my Grandma Billie (whom I was named after...we both have the middle name Marie). They enjoyed many activities together that i enjoy doing with my husband. Camping, Fishing, Hunting, Traveling, Picnics, Hiking, Family events and good food.
Two nights ago I stopped at my parents to help them with an event they had planned and sitting on their table was a stack of get well cards for Grandpa. Even though I have a lot in common with him, this is what I most remember...his affect on people. Last night we almost lost this man who is so dear to me, and I just want to share some antidotes that I remember of him.

Tyson and Grandpa

Sometimes we get so busy rushing from one place to the other, trying to squeeze that one last thing in or take that phone call that we forget to think about the important small things in life. A few months ago, I took my periodic day trip to Evanston, WY to visit Grandpa Earl. We have always been close and when I go visit he is very excited. I usually offer to drive him around so I can “get back sooner” and don’t have to be bothered with his pace of life. My last visit I took Tyson with me and suggested he drive when we got there. He did this and to my dismay he drove 20 under the speed limit (as my Grandpa does) and pulled over many times to let the other busy traffic get by.

When I finally calmed down enough to remember I was here to see my Grandpa, I had time to sit and listen to stories of his younger life I never would have heard if I didn’t slow down and pay attention to the small things like holding his hand as we drove down the road enjoying our time together. Driving home I couldn’t help the tears than snuck out as I smiled and couldn’t remember the last time I so enjoyed my visit. It just took a few minutes for Tyson to realize just how great this man is!
Now that he is in the hospital I think the only thing that pulled him through was the promise Tyson made to him that once he was better he would once again be able to go hunting (from the truck) and fishing. These men are two peas in a pod...no wonder I love Tyson so much :)

Earl's Jam

I know Grandpa misses Grandma Billie very much and lonliness makes it so easy to become bitter and self absorbed. One thing he has done to spend his time is learn to make jam. Once he started he went gun-ho. He makes the usual strawberry, raspberry, peach, apricot and the not so usual pomegranate, choke cherry and a variety of mixes. Once he has this jam he keeps some with him always. I love going places with him and watching people around him. They all know him because he is so friendly and genuine. They also all know his jam. He gives it to: Family, friends, church members, waitresses, cashiers, people at the senior center, business owners and anyone else he might run across. I went to breakfast with him once and instead of a tip he gave the waitress a bottle of jam. I was mortified, but it meant so much to the waitress that her usual customer (who usually tips money) would take the time to make her jam. She was so touched. Over and over I watch him affect people's life for the positive. Over and over I watch him and say to myself when I'm that age I hope I'm not onry at people like most older people who are in some pain and/or discomfort. I hope that I can be just a glimpse of this man.

Pool Tournaments

For about a year I worked for Verizon Wireless answering customer service calls. Most days I enjoyed the interaction, but one of my favorite aspects was a weekday off. I worked Wed-Sun afternoon/evenings. That meant Mondays I would drive to Evanston. It was during these times that Grandpa took me to the Senior Center and tried (unsuccessfully) to teach me to play pool. He had a group of buddies that were nice enough to let me play with them. They all love Earl. He can kick any one of their butts when he wants to, but he never won. He would challenge these gents and play hard with them...shit-talking the whole time :). But when it came down to it he let one of them win. Jack, in particular, took losing hard. It took me a long time to realize what was happening. It wasn't due to my lack of knowlege of pool. It was because he didn't let them know he let them win. They thought they really beat him. He was humble enough to enhance their days. He has a multitude of senior pool tournament prizes...all second and third places because he watched each day to see who needed the win the most.

One last...Earl and Jaclynn

I have had the wonderful opportunity to be close to Grandpa Earl my whole life. When I was younger...3 or 4...I don't remember this, but have the pictures. (i'll put some on later) Grandpa lived in Springville with big trees in his yard. He raked all the leaves the day we went to visit. After all that work he tells the story that i ran and jumped right in the middle of the pile and started spreading them back out. The other adults at the time tell me that Earl leaned over with a twinkle in his eye and "suggested" that what a pile of leaves was good for was to jump in and pointed to the pile of leaves. Another time we went to visit Grandpa in Evanston. Like most newlywed couple my parents were struggling and I didn't have boots. Grandma sent Grandpa to take me to get some pull over boots (a cheap and effective alternative). Grandpa took me down to the store and said which ones do you want? I was probably 4 because they moved when I was 4 and I don't remember this story either. I picked out the boots just like grandpa's. Work snow boots (size 4 and still $60.00) and of course picked out the same ones for my baby brother ($40.00). Although I don't remember these, I do remember him teaching me to fish that next summer. He loaded the pole and hooked a fish and then handed it to me...I got all the glory for catching the first fish. He also taught me to gut a fish that same day (that the part I really remember...I was 5). I remember him teaching me about quaky aspens and how the deer hide in them. I remember helping to skin the moose when he was lucky enough to draw out a moose tag. I remember eating his prized raspberries. I remember learning that a cowboy hat is the sexiest piece of clothing a man can wear. We weren't allowed to touch Grandpa's Stetson cowboy hat, but it now sits at home where he handed it down to my husband. I remember him taking the cover off the boat so we could sit in it and pretend to fish. I remember all the times he would tell us to do something we normally couldn't get away with...and perhaps we got scolded but the twinkle in his eye made it worth it...and the punishments less serious:

• putting olives on our fingers and not eating them after
• chasing the dog
• watching scary movies...such as Jaws
• Getting another cookie after we were told we couldn't have one
• Using some of the adult tools we weren't allowed to (he was always patient and there to supervise) such as the dremel tool etc.
• Putting rocks into our mouths to get the dust off and see what color they really are
• Taking home fossils and arrowheads we found when we were hiking with him
• Steering the car long before we could reach the pedals
• Driving the car after we could reach even longer before we even thought of a learners permit
• Learning just where a jeep can go that you think it can't.

These may be long, but I'll add some pictures of him later. I just needed to send out a tribute to my dear Grandpa. I love him so much!