Been thinking again about kids and tractors

...been thinking, and wondering why I have three tractors: two in different stages of restoration and one complete 9N that is beatiful to the point of being a work of art.

So, I've been thinking about selling a tractor to make room for the 841 that is in a marvelous state of disrepair, teardown, and parts strewn across the shop, on the ping pong table, on the sawhorses out back, dangling from an old steel swing-set and all in various shades of primer; red primer, green primer, and grey primer. Some parts even have two colors of primer on them.

So, which one should go? And I've been looking at the 9N until yesterday.

My 5 year old ambles into the tractor shed and says" Daddy, we should keep this 9N because it is the best and nobody wants it..."

And then I got to thinking. I received a call from a fella interested in the 9N and I am really thinking hard after we hang up.

After-all these are just old pieces of metal and machines that have been formed into curves, round parts, colors and work.

And then I became unsettled. Not so much for losing a machine but, more for the thought that my 5 year old was 2 years old when we began our tractor rides and we have had many tractor rides on this 9N for the past couple years. Sitting in my lap, arms wrapped around him, listening to the 9N and looking at the field and old Bert the 30 year old horse grazing in the pasture. Life was good.

And it's not so much giving up and letting go of a machine as it is giving up on, and letting go of a little boy that is growing way too fast that he now almost has to stand up because his feet hits the floor of the tractor when we take a small ride down the road.

Selling a tractor is one thing, but letting go of moments in time that are now becoming the past is another thing.

I better squeeze a few more rides in on these old tractors while I can. It doesn't matter what tractor I keep or sell, what matters is the time together and the moments that soon become memories that I seem to think about more.

9N'er

Truth be told, my new favorite curse word is "Darn-It!" This came about because I was working on the 2N with my son hanging around in the garage. I dropped something heavy on my foot and was about to let loose with a quick verbal expletive when I saw my son, paused, and strongly stated "Darn-It!"

Me and the girls got the tractors. Long live the memories!

Jim

Hey if you happen to pick up a Krate during one of your tractor forays let me know..I'm in the market for a project..Can't afford the ones on EBAY, for sure.

>> Selling a tractor is one thing, but letting go of moments in time that are now becoming the past is another thing. <<

I think that you just answered your own question.

How much will it be worth to pass this 9N, along with all the good memories, on to your son one day?

Memories like you have now will become more priceless to you after he is grown and gone. More importantly, they will become more priceless to him after you are gone.

My sons are now 32 and 29. Even though I was a very involved father (coached 4 different little league sports, Scouts, camping, fishing, etc.), my biggest regret in life is that I did not spend even more time with them. It goes faster than you can possibly believe. Having special "connections" between you and your son like you have with the 9N, are worth more than gold.

fwiw..... Ed
'52 8N475798

The great thing about kids is that they just say what they are thinking and that's usually how I find out what mom thinks about the tractor!

Ken

Bill