How we surprised Daddy...
Every week for months and months on their way to church Daddy would take notice to the tractor he knew his Grandfather once owned but the owner did not seem interested in selling it, that is til about 3 weeks ago when Kate (my sister-in-law) approached the wife and daughter of the owner to see if they would reconsider, after some negiotiating the sale was finalized and plans began on how we were going to get the tractor to the farm and surprise Dad. Finally, today everything came together and they were able to get the tractor onto a flat-bed trailer and Daddy was having lunch at the kitchen table when it just so happens that my brother Ben in a Santa hat comes riding up the road on the tractor, at first I didn't think Daddy would show any emotion but about 30 seconds went by and he broke down crying that he really had his Grandfather's tractor back home again after almost 50 years being gone...
History behind the gift...
For weeks and weeks, maybe even longer my Daddy had been wanting to purchase the tractor that was his Pappy's tractor (which is my great grandfather, whom I never had the privilige to meet) according to family records my Great Grandfather purchased the tractor new in the late 1940's for $350 and it was sold in 1957 at an auction for $490 to a Mr. Gaver of Wolfsville. Then the tractor was sold again to Rosco Lewis, Sr (also of Wolfsville) whom recently passed away, all along my Dad knew who had the tractor but no one was ever willing to sell it so he would just look at it from afar wanting and hoping to one day be able to return it to the family it belonged to.
Merry Christmas, we Love you!
