Highlight of tractor show is visit from brother (08/21/06)

Tractors, tractors, tractors everywhere. There are green ones, red, ones, blue ones, orange ones and a few with colors I've never seen before. Old ones and not-so-old ones are puttering up and down the streets, some with metal wheels clink-clanking on hot summer streets. They are often accompanied by golf carts that are drawn to garage sales the way little boys are attracted to mud puddles. It must be August in Portland, Indiana.

The tractors have a magnetic pull that draws people from all over the United States and probably from other countries as well. If there was such a thing as inter-planetary travel there would surely be non-earthlings oohing and aahing over these creations of years gone by.

In addition to the tractors there are displays of antique gas engines that belch and groan as their proud owners display their abilities. There are booths that feature nothing but spark plugs or other doo-dads associated with gas engines and tractors. My brothers think all this stuff is absolutely fascinating. They like to compare the tractors to the one that our grandmother used to drive even though few of the tractors on display have cranks that were often hurled in frustration because the orange metal beast wouldn't start.

They can spend hours and hours traipsing up and down the fairgrounds. They consult their brochures and booklets to make sure they don't miss a demonstration of an engine doing something or other. They talk about maybe buying one of the contraptions for themselves and becoming one of the exhibitors next year. They are in seventh heaven when they are surrounded by tractors, engines and such. The smell of grease and smoke makes them giddy, or at least it seems that way.

In addition to all the old machines there are garage sales and flea markets everywhere. I think we are the only ones to not take advantage of the increased population in order to get rid of stuff we no longer need or want. I usually just donate unused items to Goodwill or mail them to my daughter instead of going to all the hassle of a garage sale. But someday I will probably join the madness and put my junk out for display in hopes that someone will buy it.

I am also not one to join in the tractor fan club. As I have said before I think that most of the things on display belong in a landfill, slowly returning to the earth from whence they came. I am probably the only one in town to think that way. Everybody else seems to be in awe that the ancient tractors and engines still run. Everybody else seems to enjoy the demonstrations and the camaraderie that a shared interest provokes.

The only time I braved the crowds at the fairgrounds was a few years ago when we took my mom there as part of her birthday celebration. Yeah, she likes old tractors also. Anyway, it was a family affair. Mom doesn't walk well so my brothers and I put her in a wheelchair. It had been raining the day before. As we hadn't had a lot of practice pushing a wheelchair in mud we almost dumped her out a couple of times. Once she wanted a closer look at wares displayed in a booth and the wheelchair hit a rut and tipped forward as we approached the booth. We caught her just in time. Thank goodness she has a sense of humor. Come to think of it, she did ask someone else to push her for awhile. I have since been informed that it is less precarious to pull the wheelchair backwards rather than try to push it. We may try that next time.

Even though I don't see the fascination with old vehicles and other assorted junk, excuse me, collectibles, I am looking forward to this year's display. It seems my brother has invited himself to spend the night at our house so he can get an earlier start at the show. I haven't had my brother stay over for years and years and I am looking forward to his company more than he will ever know. It will be worth touring the fairground to spend time with him and listen to the excitement in his voice as he tells me all about the tractors and other memorabilia. I hope he doesn't change his mind at the last minute.[[In-content Ad]]