I'm glad you went on a little trip (physically) that took you down the road on a much longer one, filled with the good memories of youth on the farm. And how cool that you found a "neighbor" with an old tractor almost like the one you remember. Did you find the Oliver, or will that take another trip to a tractor show? We had an old diesel Oliver. The key had been lost, so the replacement was the key from a can of coffee. It was attached to a little chain because it wouldn't stay in the keyhole when the tractor was running, but it worked to start it.

I enjoyed the trip down memory lane through your eyes & memories. Loved the fabulous photos. How cool that you drove that tractor. It's easy to see how it could pop wheelies at a moments notice.
Thanks Mary. And I didn't even have to go out in this heat to go to the tractor show!

I really enjoyed reading about your trip to the tractor show. Your last paragraph was like reading something out of a book. It had a very soothing, rhymic effect.

Your memories of farm life echo mine and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. My Dad loved his John Deere tractors and he enjoyed going to the antique shows and auctions. He sold this old Model A several years ago, but I don't think he really wanted to part with it. Sadly, Dad passed away 4 weeks ago, but I will always cherish the memories of the wonderful farm life that he and Mom provided for their five daughters.

Hi Vickie - I'm so sorry for your loss. Dads are special. It will be four years this Nov since I lost mine.

Your tractor looks similar to the one I remember - I think ours had the opening in the front. I don't think I ever took pictures of any of our tractors -- too bad I didn't know then what I know now about how fragile memory is.

I'm glad you enjoyed my trip down memory lane.

I agree completely about regretting what we know now.... As many pictures as I take now, I wish I had that many of yesteryear. Even if it was just of us kids gathering eggs. But I was young and Mom was the picture taker back then. Kids don't really care about those kinds of things.

Back then, film and developing cost money, and pictures were a luxury if your family was living hand to mouth. The idea of photographing everything grew with the better cameras, cheaper processing, and then exploded when digital came along.

Sorry for the loss of your Dad, Vicki. Hold those precious memories. He'll always be with you, even if not physically.

Thanks, Mary. It was a month yesterday and still can't believe he is gone. I hadn't thought of old photographs the way you stated, but it is so true. And I remember now how Mom and Dad were busy all the time. Taking pictures was probably one of the last things on their mind.