I have concrete feet!

No I mean my feet have had too much time standing on concrete and they are really mad!

Yesterday I went to the graveside services for Big Billie Arpe. One of the Elders from Roby Church of Christ presided. After Big Billie remarried she attended church in Roby the last five years.

Lots of trips down memory lane since learning of her passing.

Of course, we attended church with her kids for as far back and I can remember. Also, they were the closest neighbors to my grand parents (not employees). They were on the same party line for phone service.

I can remember riding the bus to the Arpe home, that was as close as they got to my grand parents, and sitting in the kitchen with Big Billie as she would do the party line call to my grandmother to let her know she could pick me up. Also many people don't realize that I lived with them for an extended period in 1974 after the fire at my parents house.

Billy and Chuck and myself all had motorcycles and rode together. And of course there was and will always be the "summer resort".

Lots of inner-twining.

I did get to see one of my college roommates at the graveside service. Mike Bailey is married to Brenda who's sister Debra is married to Chuck. (Brenda and Debra are two of the Bailey triplets, the other being Linda). It seems that Mike retired from 3M two and a half years ago due to heart problems and they have moved to a lake home near the Arkansas line.

Mike said he isn't disabled, he is just unemployable. Doctors say he can work twenty minutes if he can lay down for two hours to recuperate. He has had numerous stints and open heart surgery.

In a similar situation is Chuck. Since they moved to Stephenville, we have lost contact, but it seems he suffered a heart attack at 48 which damaged the back wall of his heart. That, along with a heart infection inflicted serious permanent damage. He has been retired for quite some time.

It is kind of odd, because both Chuck and Billy have had heart problems. Woodrow, their Dad did as well and their mother suffered a cardiac arrest leading to her final hospital stay.

One thing that I did learn yesterday is that the third brother Harold died in 1995. Woodrow died in 1987.

For the record, "Big Billie" looked just like I always remember her.

Memama's and Pat's road trip is winding down. Last report I had yesterday was that they were headed to Clifton to watch the Buckaroo's play. They had spent Thursday night in Sinton, visited Terri at the cemetery before going to have lunch with Riley. Returned Austin and met Robyn before heading to the football game.

I had a productive afternoon at the farm shop. One forklift now is sporting new shoes, although I have now removed the primary hydraulic cylinder and taking it to Abilene Hydraulic. This is the cylinder that caused me repeated drives to Coyonosa last year. I talked with Kevin at Abilene Hydraulic and we both agree to go back to a traditional seal with packing rather than a one piece seal we had used last year.

A second forklift is sitting shoeless. I did remove the wheels and dismount the "tong" tires. They proved to be more of a challenge than the regular solid pneumatics.

Now I need to get the new tires mounted and pull both secondary cylinders and take them to the hydraulic shop. One cylinder is fine, but the other has issues. It too is equipped with a one piece seal and it works well until the oil gets heated up. The seal becomes too pliable and "folds", allowing oil to leak by.

Pprobably two hours to mount the new tires on the second machine and an additional hour to pull the cylinders.

On the first machine it will probably take an hour to re-install the primary cylinder.

After that it will just be routine service. Oil, filters, and grease.

A week from Monday the forklifts need to be ready to go to the jobsite.

I'm hoping there is nothing on my radar today except rain!

Have a weekend!

FATHER, I continue to lift the Arpe family for YOUR gifts of comfort and care. Heal their hearts. I continue to lift Pat and Memama for YOUR blessings and safe travel. Reign in me.