Sharing stories that wouldn’t happen today in the charming old-time heart of Middleburgh
MIDDLEBURGH — On this 24th day of February, we OMOTM convened our old selves in Middleburgh at Mrs. K’s Diner, right in the heart of charming downtown Middleburgh, far from the madding crowd, which is apparently far enough from the Walmarts and the Lowe’ses of the world to still have some interesting independent businesses.
For example, the hardware store a few doors away from Mrs. K’s is worth touring even if you don’t need nuts, bolts, rakes, or shovels. Amazingly, a vintage pickup truck even lives up on the second floor.
Mrs. K’s has lots of seating for us, including a big round table near the front and a long table that seats most of us earlier birds. If you google Mrs. K’s, you find it is well represented on the internet, describing it as a homey atmosphere with comfort food served by friendly staff.
This certainly is true, and we are made to feel most welcome here. Our coffee cups are always refilled in a timely fashion by Carolyn, while Angela takes and delivers orders, with I guess Patty in the kitchen, though Patty is too busy preparing food to be visible most of the time.
Not today
Many topics are covered in these weekly gatherings, and it must be admitted that it is a challenge to be sure on what day what was said, but it is all important to disclose. It may have been last week when a story about a hammer vs. a wrench was told.
It seems a young man, now an OMOTM, purchased a hammer at a local store and returned it when the hammer turned out to be the wrong tool, and a wrench was needed instead. This was before Amazon returns, where no questions are asked and no personal interest is involved in the transaction.
The young man was questioned, and it seems rebuked, for his misguided purchase.
Another story was told regarding a local youth who was thought to have freckles until it was discovered that, while he rode in the back seat of the car and all the windows were down, the driver was in the habit of spitting tobacco juice out the window.
Can you think of anything in that story that would be consistent with the world we live in today?
Historic honor guard
One of our members with an old army vehicle belongs to a group of others possessing such remarkable memorabilia.
He reports that these folks and their memorabilia will be forming an honor guard escort for the remains of 44 Revolutionary War veterans recently discovered near Lake George where they will be interred on May 22.
You may note that some of these vehicles appear in the Memorial Day events in Berne, and elsewhere in our area.
Mourning zerks
Complaints have been heard regarding grease fittings, or rather the lack of them. Those who go back a few years will remember zerks everywhere on equipment of all kinds that allowed joints to be greased with a grease gun, whereas today, we have what are purported to be joints that never need grease.
Nobody at the table was buying that notion. Hence, home solutions were discussed, one of which involved installing zerks where they are needed, which is just about everywhere a joint requires lubrication, contrary to contemporary marketing.
On the same subject, after discussing the high cost of repairs, it was concluded that lubrication was much cheaper than parts.
Tractors delight
Tractors, their love and care, maintenance, and many features and issues that require our special care and insights, rank high on the list of subject matter at these breakfasts.
The relative reliability of the older ones, even older than some of those at Mrs. K’s on Tuesday morning, was a discussion point. A Ford 9N and Ford 2N were lauded for starting perfectly in the spring even after a long winter of rest under tarps and snow.
Of special interest was a farm equipment sale some will attend in Syracuse later in the week.
Elder objections
Ubiquitous caps worn backwards rankle many an OMOTM. Several problems may exist with this habit adopted by the youth in our lives.
As an aside, a Greek philosopher is quoted as saying thousands of years ago that the youth of his day would never amount to anything, probably not due to hats, but something.
So this is the first problem suggested here: Us resisting that which is different and so suspect.
Second problem may be the utility of the habit. Does a cap work better when worn backwards? Do we need a government study to explore this notion?
The third explanation may be that we OMOTM object, so there is a motivation in itself. Even the Greek kids back 2,500 years ago needed to get their elders’ attention somehow.
Finding ourselves within spitting distance of the spring equinox and longer days and greening grass, yet still amid blowing and drifting snow, and with the lurking threat of more snow and ice, and appreciating the ambiance of Mrs. K’s, in the splendid village of Middleburgh, so pleased to be renewing our acquaintances and sharing common hopes and worries, and awakening and refreshing old memories were Harold Guest, Wally Guest, Ed Goff, Robert Schanz, Mark Traver, Glenn Patterson, Joe Rack, Rich Albertin, Will Lickliter, Roger W. Shafer, Jamey Darrah, Roland Tozer, Frank A. Fuss, Rev. Jay Francis, Al Schager, Herb Bahrmann, Chuck Batcher, Warren Willsey, John Jaz, Gerry Cross, Dick Dexter, Jack Norray, John Williams - Scribe Emeritus, Lou Schenck, Elwood Vanderbilt, Bob Donnelly, Dave Hodgetts, Paul Guiton, Alan DeFazio, John Dab, Gerry Chartier, and me.