Re: Medicare-eligible mechanics?

Posted by Joe Santana On 2014/2/14 11:06:05

My odometer turned 71 recently, but it doesn't feel like that unless I sit down too long and then try to get up. But, you know, use it or lose it.

I'm working on my son's '61 Jag and on the Duchess. After work (easy advertising job, but sedentary) and dinner, I go out to the garage and try to make some progress. On the Jag I'm working the proverbial Lucas Prince of Darkness electrical. This is a lot of finger, hands and arms work, reaching, twisting, rubbing, and also straining the eyes to follow a wire into dark crevices.

On the Packard last night I pulled both axles to get new bearings pressed on today. You're down getting the floor jack lined up, jacking it up, lifting and positioning jack stands, tires,loosening lots of nuts squatting in front of a hub, up and down, carrying brake drums, etc.

My point is, working on your car can be like going to the gym. I'm a widower and no one comes out to the garage any more and says "Joe, it's 10:30. Time for bed." I know it's not the same when you live with another person. I can, and have, brought car parts into the house (clean ones, mostly).

But if there's a certain person in your life, couldn't you make the case for spending a certain number of hours on a certain number of days per week in the garage because it's good exercise, honey. You want me to be healthy, right?

Best of all, it's exercise you want to do. Just get out there. There's something your Packard needs. And it's good for you.