Undy
ArboristSite Member
One of the first guys I worked for was like that. He was a WW2/Korea vet that had retired from the military as an artillery commander and took up a second career as a small engine guy. Him and his wife ran a tiny little mom and pop store out in the country near where I lived. I started working for him when I was in high school, 12 hours a week. A full carb rebuild from him at the time (early 80's) was about $16. A blade sharpen + balance for a walk-behind mower was $2.50. A full mower tune-up including oil and spark plug was $18. I asked him one time if he ever thought of charging more, and he said "I probably could, but when you've seen what I have, you're just happy enough to be alive and have something worthwhile to do."
Having had an ex-marine uncle who lived through Okinawa and spent 13 months on the front lines carrying the big Browning gun, I grew up around one of those guys who'd seen a lot. This post reminded me of him.
Here's the lyrics from a song that describes it better than I can:
He never drove a new car though he could easily afford it
He'd just buy one for the family and take whatever no one wanted
He said a shiny car didn't mean much after all the things he'd seen
George A. never saw John Wayne on the sands of Iwo Jima
from Drive By Truckers album The Dirty South
Drive-By Truckers * The Sands Of Iwo Jima Lyrics | Album: The Dirty South
Here's to you, Uncle Leo. R.I.P.
Sometimes money just doesn't mean much.