BANDITFARMER
Well-known Member
Back in the mid 70s one of the local farmers had passed away, I knew who he was but didn't really know him. His new wife decided to have a farm sale to sell everything and made it known she didn't want "his" kids (grown up) to be at the sale. You could feel the bad feelings at the sale.
Fast forward to today. The son got married had 2 sons of his own was still farming, Got divorced and lived alone for awhile but stayed close with his boys. About 5 years ago he found out he had alzheimer's disease in his early 50s. About two years later his boys took over the farm and are still farming and adding more ground and are well known as good guys that will help you out if your in a bad spot. There in the early 20 and really do a good job farming and helping take care of there dad with his sisters as he is getting worse in the memory department. Two weeks ago I had them spray my no-till ground with burn down and got to talking to them about there dad and grand dad they never knew. Anyway tried to pay them that day and they said just stop by the barn one day when its raining. Well Saturday afternoon I stopped by to pay them for the spray job they did. They were setting up for a cook out that evening so I didn't stay long.
On the way home I got to thinking about there family and everything they were going through. Now I had bought a few things at his sale one being a welder that had the chipping hammer taped to it. At home when I untapped it had his name carved into the handle.
Sitting at a stop sign thinking about this it hit me, That chipping hammer needs to go home today! I headed back to the shop. Dad was tinkering in the shop when I got there and I told him what I was going to take that chipping hammer and give it back to them as they really didn't have anything that was his dads or the boys there grand fathers. I grabbed the hammer and dad said I want to go with you and we headed out. When we got there were about 15 people there and the oldest boy walked out to meet me and dad. I told him I have something to give you, What's that he said as I handed him his grand fathers chipping hammer. WOW! He was stunned as he looked at his grand fathers name carved in it. He looked at me and said we don't have anything that was his let alone something with his name on it he used. How much do you want for it? Nothing it should have never left your family and it needs to come home. We need to show this to dad. As we walked over to ware his dad and sisters were sitting he said dad I got something to show you as he layed it on the table in front of him, As he picked it up and run his fingers acrossed the handle he looked up and said this is daddy's! You could see the spark come back to him as he looked at us all. I remember the day he carved his name on it and went on with the story of that day and you could see he was very happy. There wasent a dry eye in the place. As we left the boys and 2 of there dads sisters walked out to the truck with us and they were wanting to pay for the hammer, I told them the payment us seeing there dad and bother light up and couldn't take a dime for it, Its a gift. This was your dads and the boys grandfathers and you should have it back. To me it is just a chipping hammer with some history but to you guys its something you can put your hands on and know that your dad and grandfather owned and used it. The sisters were crying as they hugged and thanked me and dad and the boys were teared up has we shook hands and thanked us for giving there dad a great day and for giving them there granddads hammer to them.
As we left it felt good to see the joy something so small as an old chipping hammer could bring to a family. Dad didn't say much on the way home but at the house he said not many people would have done what you just did and I am proud of you for doing it and hugged me. Now I have tears in my eyes as I said I am just trying to do the right thing. Bandit
Fast forward to today. The son got married had 2 sons of his own was still farming, Got divorced and lived alone for awhile but stayed close with his boys. About 5 years ago he found out he had alzheimer's disease in his early 50s. About two years later his boys took over the farm and are still farming and adding more ground and are well known as good guys that will help you out if your in a bad spot. There in the early 20 and really do a good job farming and helping take care of there dad with his sisters as he is getting worse in the memory department. Two weeks ago I had them spray my no-till ground with burn down and got to talking to them about there dad and grand dad they never knew. Anyway tried to pay them that day and they said just stop by the barn one day when its raining. Well Saturday afternoon I stopped by to pay them for the spray job they did. They were setting up for a cook out that evening so I didn't stay long.
On the way home I got to thinking about there family and everything they were going through. Now I had bought a few things at his sale one being a welder that had the chipping hammer taped to it. At home when I untapped it had his name carved into the handle.
Sitting at a stop sign thinking about this it hit me, That chipping hammer needs to go home today! I headed back to the shop. Dad was tinkering in the shop when I got there and I told him what I was going to take that chipping hammer and give it back to them as they really didn't have anything that was his dads or the boys there grand fathers. I grabbed the hammer and dad said I want to go with you and we headed out. When we got there were about 15 people there and the oldest boy walked out to meet me and dad. I told him I have something to give you, What's that he said as I handed him his grand fathers chipping hammer. WOW! He was stunned as he looked at his grand fathers name carved in it. He looked at me and said we don't have anything that was his let alone something with his name on it he used. How much do you want for it? Nothing it should have never left your family and it needs to come home. We need to show this to dad. As we walked over to ware his dad and sisters were sitting he said dad I got something to show you as he layed it on the table in front of him, As he picked it up and run his fingers acrossed the handle he looked up and said this is daddy's! You could see the spark come back to him as he looked at us all. I remember the day he carved his name on it and went on with the story of that day and you could see he was very happy. There wasent a dry eye in the place. As we left the boys and 2 of there dads sisters walked out to the truck with us and they were wanting to pay for the hammer, I told them the payment us seeing there dad and bother light up and couldn't take a dime for it, Its a gift. This was your dads and the boys grandfathers and you should have it back. To me it is just a chipping hammer with some history but to you guys its something you can put your hands on and know that your dad and grandfather owned and used it. The sisters were crying as they hugged and thanked me and dad and the boys were teared up has we shook hands and thanked us for giving there dad a great day and for giving them there granddads hammer to them.
As we left it felt good to see the joy something so small as an old chipping hammer could bring to a family. Dad didn't say much on the way home but at the house he said not many people would have done what you just did and I am proud of you for doing it and hugged me. Now I have tears in my eyes as I said I am just trying to do the right thing. Bandit
