Visitors bring energy to town (8/22/05)

“I miss going to see the steam threshers,” my mother told me when we were discussing Portland’s annual Antique Gas Engine and Tractor Show. This surprised me as I have never thought that my mother cared about rusty old machinery.

Portland’s exhibition reminds her of all the times she went to the steam thresher show in Greenville with her late husband and her boys. They used to traipse through all the exhibits and examine the flea market finds. My brothers were often allowed to explore by themselves as it was much safer back then. It was a nice afternoon for them and somehow the weather always cooperated.

We talked about the first time we took her to Portland’s show. She wasn’t walking too well at the time so we borrowed a wheelchair and pushed her around the grounds. If you’ve never tried to shove an occupied wheelchair through the grass and over bare ground you can’t appreciate how poorly designed this means of transportation is. The thing should come with treads like a tank instead of with wheels that get stuck in every rut there is causing the one doing the pushing to almost dump the occupant on her nose. For the record, I wasn’t the only one who tried to tip her over.

It’s a good thing my mom has a sense of humor as she was laughing as hard as we were every time the chair got stuck. The grandchildren insisted on riding in her lap, causing the chair to be even more challenging to maneuver.

I think that what she enjoyed most about both the Greenville show and the Portland show was getting out and watching all the people. It always amazed her that they could get ancient engines to operate so well. The thing she liked most was running into old friends. I seldom take her anyplace that she doesn’t find someone she knows, even if we are nowhere near where she lives. I am always amazed that someone who doesn’t go anywhere and never has any visitors can have so many friends.

Getting together with people who share the same interests seems to be as much of an attraction as the old tractors themselves. People come from all over the country to see things that I consider to be junk. The antique stores in town are as big an attraction as the tractors and engines. I have already had someone stop me and ask where a certain antique shop was. Unfortunately I think that particular store has gone out of business but I directed him to a couple other choices. I hope he found what he was looking for.

I really should study a map of the town so that I can better direct people. Once I had someone stop me and ask where the Kingdom Hall was for the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I had no idea. I asked him what street it was supposed to be on. He didn’t know. Even though the women in the car were quiet, I could hear them silently screaming, “I told you to check the directions before we left.” He was obviously disgusted with me and decided to drive around aimlessly until he found it. He is probably still wandering around the side streets of Portland. It boggles my mind how anyone can go somewhere without any idea of where they are going. I still don’t know where the Kingdom Hall is, but I can direct you to several antique shops, the grocery store and my favorite restaurants.

Even though tractors, engines and endless flea markets are not my cup of tea I enjoy having all the extra people in town. It gives the place added energy and vibrance. I like seeing new faces and hearing unfamiliar accents. I don’t mind being stopped on the street and asked where things are even if I don’t know the answers.

This year we are talking about taking my mother to the fairgrounds to see the sights then coming back to our house to celebrate her birthday. It won’t be like when she used to walk among the steam threshers under her own power but it will get her out of the house. She might even find somebody she know to talk to while we’re there.

She usually does.[[In-content Ad]]