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Something about a Deere

By Mary Jane Holt
Contributing Writer

On the night before his shoulder surgery, his older son called to let him know that he was thinking about him. Then, as the conversation came to a close, son says, “Hey, Dad, one more thing, if everything goes south tomorrow, can I have your tractor?”

That John Deere tractor comment from his son did wonders. Almost like prayer! Little did son know that two days earlier I had asked his dad to show me again how to work the tractor and mowers and a few other pieces of equipment, as in power tools, etc.

You should have seen the look on his face. Stricken is what he was. Downright pale. He spent the next 48 hours thinking about chickening out, as in canceling the surgery.

He was not afraid of the surgery. He was afraid of having me go near any of his tools and machinery, especially that beloved tractor.

In fact, he said to me, “You stay away! I don’t need to show you or remind you of anything. I nearly had heart failure the last time you were on my tractor.”

He was healthy as a horse that day, but now that I think about it, he may have exhibited that same appearance. Stricken. Pale. Anxious.

Well, at this writing, we are now 48 hours post-op. And you know what he is worried about? His tractor. Not his job at Delta Air Lines. Not when he can drive his truck. Not any number of things I would be glad to list for him that I once thought was in the running with me for his affection.

It appears there just may be something about a Deere. As a matter of fact that gigantic green and yellow hunk of metal and rubber may be the thing for which he now has the most affection. I figure it beats the heck out of competing with some woman at our age!

In all honesty, I suppose I would be just like him if I could not access my computer. Over the past decade I have had several major surgeries. I recall vividly that the one thing I was most concerned about was getting my equipment and important files situated at a convenient downstairs work station that would be more easily accessible. After several times of going through that over the past 10 years I now have a dedicated downstairs office and only keep little used files and supplies upstairs.

We all want to feel useful and productive don’t we? And when we are most vulnerable it seems the desire to be productive is even more strongly felt.

It hurt me to hear someone say a few weeks ago that his life is not what he planned. After a couple of heart attacks and strokes, his retirement does not permit all the golf games he had planned to play “someday.” A brilliant man, a banker in fact, there are those who called him a workaholic. I never thought so. I just believed he loved his work. There is a difference. Still he had his “someday” thoughts stored up for the retirement years.

And that’s okay. It is good, in fact, to do that. Plan your life like you are going to live forever, but live it like today is all you’ve got. That has been my motto since I was a very young girl. It works well.

I am, however, sitting here today at this keyboard wondering what it is about that tractor. I am very disappointed that his pain pills have had an opposite effect. Instead of sedating him, he is hyped. Big time. Overly alert. Too aware. A little nervous.

I would not dare go crawl up on that green and yellow seat today. It would be unfair in his present recuperative state. Don’t know if Dr. Gruber or his own green and yellow incentive to get well will get the credit, but I have a feeling this could be one of the fastest recuperative periods in the history of shoulder surgery.

Soon, however, he will be back at Delta. Maybe as early as next week. And I know where that key is kept. Anything could happen.

After all, if it were another woman, I would want to know more about her. What makes her tick. How she makes him feel. What makes her more attractive than me. More fun. More lovable. Oh, well you get the picture.

So, look out, my Deere, I’m checking you out real soon! It’s time I better understood my competition!