“Who is at the door?” I asked my wife as I rolled over stretching my arms above my head. Lorraine responded, “Did you forget that Gordon is coming over to help you with the truck?” I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I couldn’t figure out why Gordon was coming for a visit. Then I was reminded that my sons and Gordon were coming over to fix the wiring that has been driving me batty.
I’m pretty handy with my hands and only shock myself when I change a light bulb or stick my finger into an outlet to see if it is hot. Oh yeah! I forgot how often I drop a wrench on my feet or on my hands when repairing one of the many toys I get on my birthday or Christmas. My Personal Nurse, “Lorraine,” has the duty to stop the bleeding and to wrap wet cold compresses when I can’t stop crying. Thank goodness that today’s light bulbs last a lot longer than they did when I was a boy.
Fortunately, my Pop used to allow me to putter around the blacksmith shop at his forge in Santa Maria. My dad was happy when one of his boys showed some curiosity about a manual trade. He liked me because I was the third son who would happily turn the handle of the forge as long as he wanted me to. The forge would get truly hot and get the stock to glow almost white from my efforts. When that happened, I was truly happy because my dad would smile at me like I had done something good.
I guess you could say my dad was my best friend except for Gordon. They were the two best friends that anyone could have, and to have Gordon come over to help me with the wiring on my truck always makes me feel good. I know a lot of guys who like to work on their own cars and aren’t afraid of being shocked. Gordon is my best friend and will almost always come to my aid as he has since my gun shop burned down back in the day. Of course, that is fodder for another day. Gordon ran an automotive machine shop in Salinas in those days and helped me to get all the tooling that was ruined in the fire from the Old Keyhole to Park Row, where I opened up again. It’s a wonder that we didn’t go to jail when we were stopped while bumping along the potholes of Main Street from Gabilan Street to Park Row.
Of course, the Police Department were a bunch of cool guys in those days and even turned on their red lights to alert less capable drivers that they were helping to move precious cargo, as we bounced down the street. I was sure that we were going to get a ticket or a fine or something to remind us not to do the things we were doing. In those days, the Police Department of Salinas were filled with officers who knew that the populace of Salinas was made up of citizens who were just hardworking folks.
They used to all wear Levi jeans during that period of time they called Big Week, also known as the Rodeo up in Salinas. In fact, you were arrested and thrown into jail if you didn’t have a beard. You had to stay there until a good-hearted citizen would come down to pay your fine.
I rolled over to make more room on my bed and pillows and listened to her again, “Well, you need to get up because he is just down the road and said he would be here in just a few minutes.” I punched my pillows and reluctantly got up. Sometimes I wonder if women have friends like men do. Why, just this morning I was thinking that maybe I should call Gordon and ask him to come next week. Then it occurred to me that Lorraine said Gordon will be here in a few minutes. Doesn’t she have friends that slept late and had coffee before getting here?
Of course, as soon as I think to call Gordon back and tell him I need the sleep, he will be sitting on my front porch as soon as I get back from the backyard. So, how did it go you might ask? Just like always, even though we don’t see each other everyday, we always pick up where we left off.
Gordon has been a part of my life for over 40 years, and he has been one of the most loyal people I know. He was there when I met Lorraine and has shared some of the most important, joyful and difficult times I have faced. Yet, he is still standing next to me. Loyalty has always been one of the most important attributes I look for in someone I meet. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t want someone to commit a crime or anything. It’s just you can always tell the character of someone if they stand up next to you even when times get tough.
I have always tried to teach my children the importance of loyalty and feel pretty proud to know the people who have come into my life. I hope that you have friends in your life like my friend Gordon Hulme.
God Bless.
