My friend Lloyd retired last week. He didn’t really want to retire. What he wanted to do was go on vacation and never come back. Which I guess he did. He’s on vacation now in Kauai, where he plans to stay for the rest of his life.
Lloyd has worked for my family for about 30 years. From the junkyard to the warehouses, he fixed, swept, repaired, tuned, tweaked, oiled, overhauled, or patched just about everything we’ve owned. Lloyd was the guy I’d call when I had something I couldn’t figure out. Windshield cracked? Call Lloyd. The toy railroad track that Santa brought is broken? Call Lloyd. Need to find a part for a heating element manufactured in 1963? Call Lloyd. Need somebody to get the classic car to the wedding so my daughter can be driven off after the ceremony? Call Lloyd. Building a log cabin in the woods and need some extra help on a weekend? Call Lloyd.
Me, Pat, and Lloyd. Naturally, he's wearing a Harley sweatshirt.
When we owned a property far from home and wanted some eyes & ears to watch what was really going on, we sent Lloyd. When I needed a second opinion about whether a new employee was any good, I’d ask Lloyd. When I wanted to hear the truth about somebody in a cynical and often profanity laced way, I talked to Lloyd. When D’Aun’s ’58 Chevy truck needed a rear bumper, I asked Lloyd to find one.
I’m going to miss Lloyd. We shared many more laughs than angry words, and that’s pretty good for two stubborn mules like us. He’s going to fix motorcycles in Kauai now, operating from a building on his property near his home. Lord knows how long that will last before he gets bored. If he does, his wife Pat will probably send him back to us. But honestly … I’m not thinking that’s likely to happen anytime soon. Which makes me miss him all the more.
So if you’re in Kauai and need a motorcycle fixed, or need to know if a ’67 Chevy radiator can replace a ’68 Chevy radiator, or must find a part for a DC transformer manufactured by a Korean firm that is now out of business … I know just the guy to call.
Call Lloyd.