Saturday, October 22, 2005

I've Always Wished...

that I had a house and yard to take care of. Just a house and yard. I could be so very organized. I'd love to walk out of my house and see little projects to do. Like mowing. Trimming. Gardening. Get the mail. Paint a room.
I'd do a project and then run up to the club and play 9 holes before 9:00 A.M. Get back home and mow the lawn by noon.
The reason I bring this up is because I'm going to do something today, mid October, harvest time, that my Dad would never have done. All of my machinery is sitting idle today while we go to Lincoln to a customer appreciation party. Our boys and my daughter in-law are inviting all of their customers and friends to what has become an annual event. This will be the 2nd annual Morrow Collision Center's Customer Apprecitation Party. Nebraska game on the wall, food and drinks including Cliff's smoked salmon. Ya'll come.
Last year we helped by cooking 50 pounds of meat and then making sandwiches as we carved off thin slices. The food was great but what I enjoyed was talking to the people. I'd ask, "are you customers or friends of my boys"? The answer was always the same. "Both". That told me the kids know some stuff about running a business, if their customers feel that way.
The point,,, although I've got a lawn that needs mowed, a house that I need to help clean, I also need to finish picking 40 acres of corn, run a stalk cutter over 500 acres of corn stalks, rip the rest of the bean ground, disc the 500 acres of cornstalk ground, pay bills, deposit some checks, clean two large farm buildings, paint the garage, build two large horse pens, .....
On second thought, my Dad would have done this. He liked to say, "Well, if this is the last day we have to do this,,, I guess it doesn't need to be done".
Work can wait. Party time.

13 comments:

Rhodent said...

Sounds like you will have great time. I am glad that you have the sense to put things in perspective and enjoy this event!

Rachel said...

Enjoy! Everyone needs a break. Sounds like it'll be fun, fun, fun!!

Anonymous said...

You have your priorities as they should be. This is a battle that I have had my whole entire marriage. David does a decent job now with his family and priorities -- but its taken 20 years of training -- or "untraining". His mom is in the hospital, and his dad was going to go to an auction. Priorites, man. Priorities.

Hope you have a great time!

Anonymous said...

Hope you have a great day! The Morrows know now more then ever how important it is to spend time with family.

BTW, having "just" a house and yard can end up being a lot of work, too. Sometimes I wish we were renting!

Dan said...

Thanks for your help today Dad. you know, I started to read your post while you were here, but I had more people coming through the door to welcome, so I stopped and didn't realize what it was about until now. You don't know how much I appreciate your help. Nothing makes me more proud than to say to a customer, " Hey, I want you to come over here and meet my Mom and Dad." I love you both. Thanks again. Very very good to see the other Tekamah folks also.

Peter said...

Another great post and family tradition Cliff, I'm a newcomer to your site but have quickly grown to like it, maybe because my daughter and son-in-law also farm with their boys??

JUST A MOM said...

Glad you took a break!

Ralph said...

Cliff
Even with just a house and yard - there is always plenty to do. But for days like to today it can wait. Wish I was there to help you and Dan - plus, it just sounds like fun.
Ralph

Ralph said...

Cliff
When you get there could you ask Dan why we weren't invited. He did some free work for us! I mean we weren't invited to the wedding and now this. What's up?
Ralph

Dan said...

Hey Ralph, I'm not going to have you drive 8 hours just to help us with a 4 hour party. That would be wasting your gas and time. Sure the drive here would be ok because of the anticipation to see my folks and everyone else, but the trip back always sucks.
Now, on the other hand, if you only lived as far away as say, Tekamah, I would have had you down here most of the week to help me. Dan

Jamie Dawn said...

I hope the customers felt mighty appreciated, and I hope you all had a great time together.
My daughter and I spent all day yesterday and all day today (after church that is) at a movie festival.
I was fun, but I'm tired.
Now, get back to work! There's farming to do and grass to mow, and Marilyn needs you to swab the toilets.

Alison Hodgson said...

Cliff, I love the verbage under your title, "If it was easy everyone would be doing it. And we are." Love that.

This post got to me. My dad is dead and the love in "How do you know my boys?" is palpable.

Thanks for telling your stories and showing your beautiful farm. I live on a little over an acre that is full of gardens. With three little kids it feels like a lot but you would probably be THRILLED to have my "huge" load of yard work.

Anonymous said...

Keep up the good work! John Asturian