50+ thread

spill it before I get drunk and pass out

 

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

 

welcome to the new giys

 

Congratulations on your retirement Mike!! Now it's fishing time!!!

 

You..

 

Mike,
Congratulations on your retirement.
You will still give us Moron Reports.
Now they'll be from a boat launch.
Enjoy your yourself

 

A solid C +, it’s nice to be above average. Welcome to the old farts club.

 

Mike, I don't comment all that much although I follow along every day. I just want to say THANK YOU, that was very well written and CONGRTUALTIONS on retiring. Enjoy Every Day of it and never change. Congrats!!

Mark

Did you look back one last time as you drove away??

 

Mike Congratulations, I know it’s bitter sweet but damnit you deserve it.

 

Evening everyone, man this is hopping tonight. Somebody must have spiked the early bird special at The Old Country Buffet.

 

I’ll take a C+ reminds me of high school

 

Congrats brother to a fellow tradesman here. That’s a great accomplishment.
Great Job.

 

Mike

Thank you for your years of service. You said the other day that it was a hard road...I hope and pray that the road that lies ahead is one where you won’t have to constantly fight against “the bottom line” in doing the right thing. I for one am thankful for people like you, because people not profits drive your practice. With Great Respect! Mark

 

Congratulations Mike. Enjoy your time. Do what YOU want now WHEN you want.

 

Ear. Doc today. They stick me in a room by myself for 90 minutes. I call the receptionist. She tells me the doc is busy with another patient. I can hear well enough to hear the doc on the phone with someone setting up a home gym for the doc.

Never actually got to see the doc. Told to return in a year. ....a waste of time....

 

Evening Bill, frustrating, and if you complain then your the asshole.

 

Congrats Mike, for reaching a milestone.

Go fishing.
You earned it.

 

Congrats Mike. Not many make it this far, most fail, give up. You've reestablished our trust and respect we have for our home town mechanics and service techs. Thanks for representing the best.
Zim