Thread: I Miss Those Days....

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I knew my father-in-law for less than a year, lost him to cancer that was in his bones when discovered, but he was a gem! A used car wholesaler, buying from individuals or the auction, and selling to the dealers. He would be up on Sunday morning, waiting for the paper to hit the driveway about 3:30 or 4 a.m. - his days of waiting at the loading dock for the first edition to roll off the presses was gone by that time, he waited for the delivery. His wife, after finding him talking on the phone at 5 a.m. too many times laid down the law, "No Phone Calls before 7:00 on Sunday!" He'd spend his three+ hours going through the ads, circling the ones he wanted to call, just like in Mike's paper above, and as the clock struck the first of seven chimes he was dialing, getting agreement on his price and moving on to the next one. By 9 he was gone, a handful of bank drafts and his business checkbook in hand. First house he'd write a check, explain to the seller that he needed to sign the title and seal it inside the draft envelope, then take it to the bank Monday morning for the cash. Then he'd take that car, to prevent buyer's remorse, saying he wanted to drive it home and would be back later to get his car, left at the curb. He'd repeat at the second house, and each one after that leaving a string of cars parked around town. Back home for breakfast at lunch time, he'd take his wife to start ferrying cars back to his back alley building. He'd sometimes be met by a seller, saying he was sorry that he accepted a reduced price so early in the morning, saying he'd had calls offering full price and wondering if he could get his car back? Of course my FIL was prepared with a story that the guy's car was indeed a great car, so good that he'd stopped to show it to a friend on the way home and already sold it! I loved talking to him, as his stories were mesmerizing, and always left me laughing! RIP, Tom.