60+ year old thread.

Good Morning ! New to the thread. Just turned 60 this year so I guess I qualify...

 

Welcome! Just a bunch of people, gabbing about whatever floats your boat at the moment, except politics, haha.

 

LOL I looked at the checks as the Government giving me back some of the taxes I paid.

Welcome to the thread Ed. Post up a few pics of your Tacoma or some of your hobbies. If you have puppies or cats we like pet pictures too.

Today is blood donation day. Giving the gift of life always makes me feel good. Only takes about 45 minutes, painless, and there are usually attractive nurses that love to see me. LOL After lunch it is off to purchase some more plants. I need a Chili pepper plant my son wants some carrot seeds and a cucumber plant. And of course I want some flowers for our patio pots.

 

Welcome to the porch Ed. Great group in here and as @06Tacooo said
"Just a bunch of people, gabbing about whatever floats your boat at the moment, except politics, haha." Hang around and the rest of the folks will be along. Enjoy and have a great day.

 

Good morning all,

Welcome Ed, good group here on the porch whether you are here for coffee or evening cocktails.

Tom, I gave blood last Friday. They are adding a lot of results to the taking, COVD antibodies, confirmed blood type, hemoglobin, cholesterol. Or at least this group that runs the drive in the small community near me has added results.

Warmer today, maybe in the low 60's but cooler weather with rain/snow mix headed our way for the weekend. Still not complaining - it all helps with a lesser fire season.

Have a great day and be safe - just think we don't have wear masks on the porch anymore

 

Thanks for the welcome. Here's a few pics of my boy Rhett. He's 2 years old and crazy as hell. Also a few of my Taco. It's been OV2 tuned and feels pretty good. It's a work in progress like everybody's else's.

 

Morning all:
Welcome to the porch Ed, first fill up the cooler and then pull up a chair on the porch, we discuss anything and everything here, as stated----STAY AWAY FROM POLITICS though!

Ken, like that definition of "Checks and balances", sounds about right!

Same here Tom, and I'm sure for others, just getting back some of the taxes I paid, and then turn it around and send it right back as quarterly est. tax!

Waiting for the cicadas to emerge, so far no sign of them here yet.

 

We gots animals too.

 

Who's got who, Cheech?

 

Important announcement tonight

 

Good afternoon, gentlemen. 61 year old not-quite-retiree here in Boerne, TX. I've been here on Tacoma World for many years; I get more active when looking for my next Tacoma. I'm currently waiting for delivery of my third after my 2019 SR5 was totaled by a neighbor a few weeks ago. She came over the centerline (I suspect asleep at the wheel or texting), and hit me near head-on. I was fortunate to have no significant injuries. My truck took the hit for me. Got the insurance payout, and now waiting for my new TRD Off-Road to arrive, hopefully next week. Looking forward to a maiden voyage up to Taos in a few weeks. So anyway, happy to be here on the porch with you guys.

 

You in Phoenix... or Tucson? Taos is one of my favorite places. I really enjoy the art galleries and restaurants. Glad to hear you came out of your accident unscathed. Too bad about the truck.

 

All I ever wanted to do was to fix things.

To do something most people couldn’t.

To do it with pride.

To do it with respect.

To do it with knowledge gained to make myself the best at my craft.



It started when the family moved and of course a new neighborhood and kids.

Was just riding around on my bike and down one street and I heard a loud noise.

It was a engine. I followed the sound to a house and in that yard was a oval track race car running. Numbers on the side etc. To me, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

I just road by for weeks.

Come to find out there was a bunch of older kids that were working on it with the

Adult owner. So one day I stopped and actually went onto the driveway and talked to the guys.

One of the kids was actually a family friend’s son.

So this started be an a ritual after school. I started helping, a little. Christ I was 13.



I lied about my age to get into the races a few years later.

I gained a lot of knowledge.

I was a sponge.

I was reading hot rod magazines as fast as I could earn money.

I could recall little details and at one race the car was not right.

Backfire, skipping. The guys were lost.

I didn’t say much.

I was a tag along until this day.

They had given up on the car for the night and they were just going to start the race with no expectations.

When they were in line before going out on the track I ran up to the owner in the car

And I yelled.

“Take the air cleaner off ,Take the air cleaner off.

They had changed the air cleaner a few weeks earlier but we had gotten rained out for 2 weeks.

I ran to the oldest kid and yelled the same thing.

Cars were starting and he just took off running.

Popped the hood and yanked it off.

He started last due to qualifying.

He finished third

Car was as fast as before.

Owner got out of the car and walked over to the oldest kid and

said “Good call”

The kid said “ Don’t thank me, thank Mike”

I became part of the Crew then and there.



Went to Vocational School.

Went to Vocational College. Did double classes and did two years in one.

I tore into things and with my race experience I was so far ahead of the others the

teacher asked why I was even there. I could use all the machine tools. Rebuilding

Connecting rods, pistons, cranks. Boring cylinders, honing.

You name it, I did it.

Had to be shown once and then, I was off and running.



Started working for Chrysler.

Got all my certificates.

Taught a few classes.

Became a Master tech

Big wigs came down cause they had heard I was fixing a problem they couldn’t.

Other dealers were towing cars from out of state to my shop.

I wouldn’t tell them unless they made me rich.

So I’m still poor. Don’t care.



Started working on Toyota’s

Got all my certificates.

Became a Master Tech.



I was not a back yard flunky.

Not a guy that tinkered.

Not a grease monkey.



I am a professional.

I mastered my craft.

I AM AND ALWAYS WILL BE A MASTER AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN.

Honest

Never ever did something or upsold something that in my heart wasn’t needed.

Reliable

Always showed up on time. Even during a blizzard. Vary rarely closed.

Respectful

Even now when lots of customers are pieces of shit assholes, when I had to talk to them,

I never was demeaning, or insulting, or derogatory. I would explain why things had happened and how I could get them on the road.

UNTIL,,,, THEY DISRESPECTED ME.

Then, the gloves were off.

Calling me liar or a thief was the worse thing they could say.

Many many times it was not pretty.

I don’t have a filter.

Never got an apology when i proved I was right.



I’m human.

I make mistakes.

Not very many but I do.

I take the hit.

I make it right.

I tell the customer what happened and how it was resolved.

I did the right thing.



It’s been 48 years.

I’m beat and battered, like all other physically hard working people.

We get no thank you.

No pat on the back.

Just a faster, or how much longer ( which would infuriate me. WTF you think

I’m doing back here.)

Things change all the time.

Always going to school.

Learning to fix the crap and shit the car companies put in these vehicles.

Never ending.



But now, the end is here.



Today is my last day as a full time Master Auto Technician.

To all my faithful customers that followed me during my career

(Some of them as much as 33 years) that trusted me, gave me gifts of

Cards, Food, ( Dam your blueberry pie was always so awesome Diane) thank you notes, you have no idea what it means and how I respected our relationships.

I will miss you all.



To all the others.

Unfortunately I cannot change your opinion.

I tried all my career.

I was talked to from the higher up’s so many times about my low

Upsell numbers I can’t begin to count.

If I wasn’t as good as I was I think I would have not been around.

When I first started, it was a service. To help.

Now, it’s a business, to make money.

Big business changed the industry.

Big business didn’t change me.

I am sorry you didn’t trust me.

I have done all I could do.

I gave it everything I had.

I have no more to give.

I have my integrity

I have my honesty

I can go to sleep well tonight knowing I did it right.



I’m Done

 

Respect...

 

Well said Mike! You are walking away with pride knowing you are the best at what you did. Few people can claim that. People like you are rare indeed. Welcome to the next part of your life where I know you will excel. Welcome to retirement, good luck and God bless.

 

Happy Retirement Mike! Now, you can do no wrong, as long as you're doing what you want to do! Enjoy the heck out of it!!

 

Evening all:
Holy crap Mike, sounds like you have had it to put it mildly, time to do what you enjoy and want to do now.
My buddy who quit his job after 42 yrs. has no regrets, figured enough is enough and it was time to move on.

Welcome to the thread Steve, first fill up the cooler and then pull up a chair on the porch, we're like the morning coffee group and anything other than politics is acceptable to discuss.

 

Afternoon, and welcome Ed! This is a real easy place to be!

Welcome over to this thread Steve! Don't need to see a pic of the last Taco this time!

 

Double like that eloquent post, good for you man!

I have been following along with your story for quite a while and picking up on your increasing frustration -- and also the tremendous respect that other forum members, including myself, have for you. So glad you did it!