On down the way fifty yards or so, I saw a display which I almost rode past.
I turned the bike around and went back. An old fellow visiting a few yards away saw me stop, hobbled over on his cane. He was the proud tinkerer who created these lovelies.
"Keeps me out of bars and out of trouble. Actually, I don't drink, never have. I only have one vice."
"Building these things?" I queried. He might have been insulted, but he didn't seem to be.
"No. Smoking." Okay, he is nearly as old as I am, and if it hasn't killed him yet. . .
"I have never seen sewing machines repurposed in just this way," I averred.
Then he was off about his ownership and participation in monster truck rallies, dreams of constructing one more "sewing machine" monster, steam-engined this time, his children, his residence and his loss thereof in the Palm Sunday tornado of 1965, and so on. You see why I was unable to provide details of the conversation, or I should say monologue, for it was sometime before I found a chink in his reverie where I could put in a gracious "Nice talking with you. Good luck on your next project."
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Allison V-12
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Green Monster
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Grey Ghost
8 comments:
At least he has found something to keep himself busy. No sitting around feeling sorry for himself because he no longer has a day job!
Vee, one does have to admire that.
A creative fellow he with a gift for gab. Or is it an infliction? For him or those he encounters?
Chuck, interesting fellow; just needed to talk, I guess.
It was nice of you to listen for a spell. I imagine his family is tired of his history. Maybe he makes these just so people will talk to him.
He is very creative!
Lin,, perhaps those nearest and dearest do tire of our tales? I did enjoy listening to him, and the toys were, well, different.
Those are a very cute use for old sewing machines. But, I have a really hard time with people who talk non-stop like that.
Sharkey, the guy was interesting; and I had the option to ride away on my bike at any point. *grin*
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