So I have this grandma. She's pushing 90, and as she has stopped walking her five miles a day, she's really got to the point where she's not so strong. Been going downhill for three or four years, regressing really fast. Long story short, I decided to take on this project since nobody else is putting any effort into it, even though all three sons have time and means. That's not the depressing story.
Last week, I found a ramp that meets the length and height requirement in my corner of SWOK for a steal! Contacted the dude, drove to his town, and picked it up. As I was pulling anchors off this thing, I started chatting him up. He was an old dude, pushing 70. Had an interesting Army life, and a few good stories to pass what little time I spent on his stoop. I just couldn't ignore how great of shape this ramp was in. Set out in the elements in SWOK, so I asked him about it, even though I felt I was about to open a bleeding wound of a lost aging parent. Turns out, he recently had a VA hip replacement, so they installed this ramp a few days before I showed up to claim it. It was less than a week old. The soot was still around the welds. So, as I try not to look a gift horse in the mouth, I asked him why he was selling it. He replied that his SS and retirement wasn't enough, that just needed the money. I paid him full asking price, $100.
As I drove away, the taxpayer in me was upset at his actions. The patriot in me was sad for his situation. And to top it off, I was both elated and depressed as I drove away with a brand new ramp, pennies on the dollar.
Last week, I found a ramp that meets the length and height requirement in my corner of SWOK for a steal! Contacted the dude, drove to his town, and picked it up. As I was pulling anchors off this thing, I started chatting him up. He was an old dude, pushing 70. Had an interesting Army life, and a few good stories to pass what little time I spent on his stoop. I just couldn't ignore how great of shape this ramp was in. Set out in the elements in SWOK, so I asked him about it, even though I felt I was about to open a bleeding wound of a lost aging parent. Turns out, he recently had a VA hip replacement, so they installed this ramp a few days before I showed up to claim it. It was less than a week old. The soot was still around the welds. So, as I try not to look a gift horse in the mouth, I asked him why he was selling it. He replied that his SS and retirement wasn't enough, that just needed the money. I paid him full asking price, $100.
As I drove away, the taxpayer in me was upset at his actions. The patriot in me was sad for his situation. And to top it off, I was both elated and depressed as I drove away with a brand new ramp, pennies on the dollar.