I was young and was sure I knew exactly what I wanted. I walked into an industrial tire repair shop in Monrovia California and boldly declared to the grungy man in charge that I wanted to purchase the biggest tube he had available. He sized me up for what I really was and responded, NO you don't!, I felt challenged, and repeaded with full confidence, YES, I do. He simply answered No you don't. A little frusterated and way to arrogant I reiterated with an air of underserved confidence, Yes I do...You don't know what I what it for. He just said, OK, It will cost you $3000, it stands 9 ft. tall and weighs 500 pounds. I wish I could have seen the look on my face, it must have been a deflated red glow. In my best to recover I confessed, your right, I don't. What do I want? He pulled the tire pictured above from a barrel and blew it up for me. It was perfect, and only $30. What fun we had on what was dubbed the USS Fat Albert. We never went to the beach or lake without it. a dozen teens could stand on it without tipping it. Am I ever glad I finally asked the one with the real knowledge what it was that would meet my needs. That grungy old guy really knew his stuff. Sometimes I still forget and try to tell God what it is I want instead of doing the really wise thing and ask Him what it is he has for me. I should know better by now. I'm glad I have this picture to remind me. The shack discussion guide, The shack study guide.
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5 comments:
as a daughter who came into the family a bit late (ok - so God DOES have perfect timing... but you get the idea) :) i am SO glad you are blogging right now. you are helping me to get to know my Papa Z and Z-family even better and I'm so thankful.
I loved Fat Albert! So many memories on him. Lake Havasu, Lake Pleasant, Lake Roosevelt, tubing down the Salt River.. Heidi do you remember going with Jim and I to Bartlett lake - it seems like we may have had Fat Albert on that trip. That was the last time I wore a bikinni I think (and it WILL be the last time) - sorry TMI Dad - hijaking your blog. Dad did Fat Albert actually live that long or did we use "descendants" later?
oh yes! we did have him... we swung off a rope too and my arms hurt afterwards. :)
love it! on the farm we had our own "fat alberts" yes, plural. that's one of the benefits of being a farm kid -- lots of over-sized inner tubes to take to the lake.
Doni: There was only one Fat Albert. I kept him for over 20 years and finally sold him to some teens in the neighborhood. He could still be out there today!
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