To satisfy popular demand, here go a few more.
My Dad was in the Law business, and had worked all his life to get off the farm. He never understood why I would want to stay. In his last 20 years, I think he came to realize it was in my blood, and there was no turning back for me.
Dad knew a heck of a lot, but always seemed to be busy, so my knowledge came from his Brothers, and Brother In Laws, all whom had big places, and I hate to brag about it, took me under their wing to Educate me in the Farming/Cattle schools. I think it would have been a toss up as to which of the string of them knew the most.They were all real Characters that stood out in the community.
One of my favorite Uncles, a very good looking feller, and Married to One of Dad's 6 sisters, always wanted me to help him sucker Tobacco, Rake hay, pick Corn, Watermelons, Musk Mellons. I never realized something til' I was a lot older, but there was a Doctor and his Wife that owned a beautiful herd of Herefords, on about a 500 acre place. While the Doc was at work, we'd go over to her Farm and He'd have a "Visit". He'd get a good swig of Scotch from a bottle in the truck's glovebox, and tell me "I'll be back directly". Me being only about 14, had know idea what was going on.He died at the age of 54 and I always thought that was old...I remember telling the Doc's wife that she had the finest Cattle I'd ever seen. She asked me and was dead serious, "Which ones do you want". My Uncle said come on boy, lets go to the square and I'll buy you a Milk Shake, and a Hamburger for Dinner. I really wanted some of those Calves.
Back to some of the Farm Hands...
There was James, he drove an old Belvedere, and was always dirty, and cussed a lot. I remember him complaining that when he worked on the place all he got for Dinner was Vienna Sausage or Balogna sandwiches. said my Uncle was too tight to feed the help real food.( my Aunt worked at the Shoe Factory in Town) so she was not there to cook and deliver it to the fields. James always said he was moving to California and be a Movie Star.He robbed a service Station, and the Law shot him dead.
My best buddy that always was by my side was Mac. We were born a few days apart in the same year.Him and I seemed to have trouble always on our side.I remember taking out a cultivating tractor, and the 2 of us made an Indy 500 Track with the Cultivators. Bent them all to heck, and my Uncle calmly asked,"did you two tear up the 140?" I hung my head and admitted it. He just shook his head and said "Allright".The next day he discovered we had shot an old Combine and a 51 ford sedan all to hell, pretending we were Cops and Bonnie and Clyde were there.I just dont think he ever quite figured out what to do with me. We always remained close as Peas in a Pod til' his last day in this old world. I miss all of them something fierce.Sometimes I wish and wonder if they look down on me and see my Life has come out just fine, with my Family, Farm, and Friends...And they are owed more credit than they can realize they made me this way. ;-)