73-87chevytrucks.com
General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: 78 Chevyrado on March 15, 2012, 09:25:41 pm
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This isn't real truck related, except this is the grandad who gave my my current truck, my 78 C20, and he even chipped in a lot towards fixing it up, because he wanted to have a part in it's restoration. so that in itself, I want to thank my Grandad, Roger Miller for all the help he's given me throughout my short life. He love my truck now as much as he ever did, and I noticed he never refers to it as his truck anymore. I asked him why and he said he had given it to me, so it wasn't his anymore. I told him it's as much his truck as mine, don't care who's name is on the title. so now he again refers to it it as "his old truck" and that makes me happy, because for me, it's still his old truck, and will always be "his old truck" I'm just keeping it running and on the road so it doesn't become a piece of junk to be scrapped for him.
I just wanted to honor my grandad and how much he means to me, and how he comes through everything that comes his way. He's been my hero as long as I can remember and is the toughest man I have ever even heard of. He's one dang tough old German.
I haven't been on the site much for a while, It's been a hard few months now since January, but now everything's come around to where things are better than when all this started. I'm my Grandad's primary caregiver at home. I took time out of my life in order to give him the most comfort he can have the rest of his life. He had another caregiver, and he was awesome, but he feels better knowing it's me who's here with him. I've been taking care of him for the last year or so.
Back in mid january, I found him totally incoherent, and way out of it. did intensive care for him myself for 2 days until I figured I had to take him to the ER, as he was getting worse. In the ER they said he has a Massive Staph Infection, which can be fatel to younger people. He was in the hospital for 5 weeks working the infection out and healing back up, until they called and said the IV wasn't enough they needed a feeding tube for him, so we ok'd it, and within 2 days he was coherent and "with it" again. and within 4 days, he was out of the hospital and off to rehab to get his muscle strength back. I'm so happy he doesn't remember the hospital, cuz it was bad.
He's been in rehab the last 4 weeks, and we found out he'll be able to come back home APR 23rd. they call him John Wayne at the rehab center. They don't know how close that is. Think in a John Wayne voice.. "Get the heck out of here death" He kicked Death's and is better off for it. that's almost unheard of, especially at his age.
He's made such a recovery from this, He's LITERALLY better than he's been in the last 6 years. I've been busy going to visit a lot and making sure he has what he needs in rehab. He got to goto church last week for the first time since this started up, and I look forward to taking him back again this sunday for sunday school and church.
Only time in his life until now he's ever been to a hospital was in 93 for a hernia and in 2006 for double knee replacement. other than that he's never been in a hospital until now. Only time before that was in China in WWII his appendix ruptured and they had to take that out in the jungle. They got him super drunk on saki and did the surgery. I have a pic somewhere of him and the little china man who did the surgery.
He's just so tough it's impressive to me personally. When he had the hernia operation he waited 3 months to have it done, because it wasnt so bad.
One time he came up to me, when I'd just put the engine in my old 87 R10 and wanted to see how i did and grabbed the radiator shroud while the engine was running. it went TINK! and he jerked back and then I'm all freaking out about it and he's just looking at me like "what's you stop talking for? continue." he put a bandaid on it and called it good. Mom wasn't having that though, and made him go to the doc and he got 4 stitches in his fingertip.
Another time, he caught his finger in a table saw blade, and walked to our house (next door) and wanted to know if I would cut the meat flap off and bandage him up. I was totally freaking out, blood everywhere, again, Mom made him goto the doc and he got 8 stitches in his fingertip that time. he never felt any pain. you could tell it looking at him.
This is the funniest thing I can remember about him and my grandmother...
He never would buy a battery for the old tractor, so whenever he wanted to start the thing, he had grandmother tow him in my truck to pull start it. My grandmother didn't drive except to the beauty parlor, and never had driven on a freeway, ever. she hated driving. Well he put grandmother in the truck (my 78) and he was on the tractor, and he's yell, "PUNCH IT" and she did. that truck shot rocks and gravel all over him on the unprotected tractor, busted the tractors headlights out and dented the grille and everything and she just kept going. he yell "OK" and shed stop and go back in the house. he'd put the truck up, then go do his thing on the tractor. he NEVER once said anything to her about the gravel in his face. it was so funny to watch. I was like 6 or 7 at the time and that was better than TV. you knew what was coming, so you just waited for it.
I remember being 5 or so, going to lake lanier with him in the truck and one time (Its a FF 14 bolt axle) I was looking in the mirror, we were going 25 or so, and the RR hubcap popped off and the axle came out and the truck stopped. I was freaking out, but he fixed us up and we made it back home just fine. Turns out (I found when I inherited the truck) all but 3 of the axle hub bolt holes were stripped and useless, and they had worked themselves out. That scared me, but he fixed it up and said dont worry about it so i never did again.
I remember being 6 or 7 and him and my uncle were having fits getting the fuel pump back on the block, and they wouldnt let me try cuz i was just a kid who didnt know nothing, and finally they let me try and i had it back in in 3 minutes. they didnt know what to say, so they didnt say nothing but thanks! They didnt know, my dad had just showed me 3 days ago how to do that on his 77 c10... I never told him that one.
I remember about 2006 or so, trying to get the old 78 c20 started, you had to pour gas in the carb to get it started the frst time. Well I had learned about fireballs out of carbs on my own, so i usually i never start an engine without the air filter on it. Well hes under the hood, hollerng crank it! I'm inside saying we need to put the filter on it or there will be a fireball! he said naw, just do it. OK, i did it. it backfired and a huge ball of fire went up the hood and singed his mustache! again, he didnt have anything to say. i laughed so hard! from then on, he pulled his head back when i was cranking it.
He used to deer hunt until he was 88. He's take the truck and go park in the field and camp out in it (he could climb stands) he left the vent window open, and propped his rifle out of it and waited. then he'd get one and call me and Id walk over load it up and he drive me back to the house.
The reason I got the old 78 running for him to hunt in, is because i didnt want the dead deer in the back of my WHITE 77 c10 i used to have. he went hunting and i loaned him my white 77 cuz his truck wouldnt start, and he got one brought it back and hung it up. Well he didnt get around to cleaning out the back of my truck, which was WHITE. so I jumped in it without paying attention andtook off and got to the gas station in downtown Atlanta, and ran in, and when I came back out there were people staring at my truck, i wanted to know why, and there was a bloody gut filled mess in the back. im surprised now nobody called the cops to check me out on that one. after that, I kept his truck running or would get it running any time he wanted.
There is a park in/near Sanborn, IA Named Miller Park. He donated the land he owned to the town for that park. He always tries to give back what he can to whatever community he lives in.
HEre is him and My grandmother There in 1985.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Roger%20Miller/SanbornIA1983.jpg)
Me and My sister on that trip in 1985. Truck is behind the statue. I rode from GA to IA in the back of that truck. Good times!
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Roger%20Miller/SiouxCityIA1986.jpg)
My Grandmother on the way to IA, 1985
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Roger%20Miller/GoingtoIA-1986.jpg)
If you read this far, musta been interesting to you, I just felt like putting something up to honor my Grandad, Roger Miller, He's still my hero! They used to call him SMILEY, because He's always smiling. He's always so positive. NOTHING gets him down for too long if at all. I wish I was like him. I try to be but fall short.
In Dress Uniform US ARMY enlisted in 1941
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Roger%20Miller/RogerInDressUniform.jpg)
His Anit-Aircraft Battery in Burma China, 1943
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Roger%20Miller/MachineGunner1.jpg)
Him on a hunting trip in 1990. That snake scared the crap out of me!
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Roger%20Miller/RattleSnake.jpg)
His (late) 93rd Birthday at his church last sunday. He's been going to the same church since 1953.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Roger%20Miller/DSCF2460.jpg)
Last project he got to physically help with was his old dumptruck. It's a 70 Ford F700 and he bought it new. We got it and restored it and sold it for a profit. He liked doing that kind of thing. Here's a pic halfway through, olny one I have unfortunately.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Dumptruck.jpg)
OUR old truck. WE did this. He helped me pick the color, the wheels, the interior colors, mirrors, keep the trim or not... He put in quite a bit of money too in the restoration after the wreck. He put in money for options i wouldn't have, and while i could afford it too! So he put in to make the truck better than i would have, so I'll cherish this truck above all other vehicles I'll ever own. If I ever own a Bentley, this truck will share garage space with it or the Bentley will sit outside.. He didn't like seeing that truck wrecked and SURE didn't want it sold or scrapped. He helped me so much with this truck. It's the best one I've had. If I ever sell this, you'll know I have NOTHING else left in the world and am extremely hungry. Only thing that makes me sad about the truck is that he can't get in it anymore. He did get to ride in it finished 3 times. At times that makes me wish I had lowered it so he could get in it.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/DCP_1829.jpg)
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/78%20C20%20-After%20New%20Wheels/MainPic.jpg)
He'll be home very soon!
I guess with the stories above this is at least halfway truck related afterall.
Anybody else inherit a truck you want to share a story about? I'm just sorry it took me this long to post this. My grandad is an amazing person. I enjoy talking to him daily and hearing how things used to be, how they ought to be, and what he thinks of how they actually are!
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great story man and its good to have something that you can be proud of and have such great memories of family helping out even when not needed. hope he gets better he will be in my prayers
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Excellent story Kenny. I have a similar story and have shared in my facelift on my 85. Feel the same way about it as you do yours. Mine is about keeping his memory alive as I obtained it after his untimely passing. Thanks for sharing it was an enjoyable read!
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Love the story !!
So many memories.......keep them forever, and pass them down to younger family members.
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Thanks guys!
I forgot to add. He gave me this weekend, My Great Great Grandfaters Pocketwatch.
It's an 1896 Elgin, 17 Jewel, RailroadGrade, Lever-Set, size 18s. It ill works. After all this time, it only loses 10 seconds/day and will run for 37 hours on a full wind. It's in a 1931 Illinois Watch Case co. "SPARTAN" case.
For example: Railroad grade, means the watch only loses +/- 30 seconds per week.
He was interested to find out stuff he didn't know about the watch.
Here's what the back looks likewith the rear cover removed. It's beautiful, Can't believe the detail inside it!
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/1896%20Elgin%20Pocketwatch/Elgin18s17jLSgr27mvmt.jpg)
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Great story Kenny, Unfortunately I do not have anybody that could have given me something like that, but I plan on passing my vehicles down to my children and only hope they cherish them as you do.
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Great stories. I too love to talk with older people and hear how thimgs used to be, and still should be. I know my dad, and grandfather would turn over in their graves if they knew what this country has become!
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I'll be glad to have him home again. They are great up there where he is now, I'm impressed how good they are, but it's not home.
I also had the bad experience once of working maintenance in a Crappy retirement home one time. worked there about 6 months and had to quit, I couldn't handle it, how badly they were treating them. I even put in a complaint, but ya know how that goes, things probably got better for a while, then probably reverted again.
I'll have him back home sooner than I though. For some reason I'm a month off on everything I've been doing lately. Even had a couple of late bills... >:(
He'll be back March 23rd, NOT Apr23rd. Quite a brain fart.
Things been so out of kilter, I've been driving around in his car with expired tags. Tag was due while all this was going wrong so it slipped through the cracks. I even drove the car to Bama with bad tags. Boy did I luck out, just payed the thing a week ago. they expired feb 8th. somehow, LUCKILY they didnt even notify the insurance company so it was a simple matter of a $20 extra fee to reinstate it and we're all good again.
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It's gotten worse since my last post...
bout 4 weeks ago, he had a total relapse, pneumonia, everything.
He went out to sit in the yard in his chair and was fine, 30 minutes later I tried to bring him in for lunch and he wouldn't wake up. he seemed fine... sleeping, just wouldn't wake up. Ambulance had to come get him, and he went to the hospital for 7 days, they got him fixed up and hes back in Rehab again. last week he had another small relapse, so it doesn't look like he's gonna get to come live at home again.
I go see him often up there, and THEY TREAT HIM GREAT, no question there... I've basically inherited his house and live there now like when he was here. I feel like a piece of crap every time I leave him and go home to his house where he cannot live anymore. it's so dang hard right now. It's so hard seeing him up there and can't go home. right now I wish I had become a doc cuz then he could.
He so optimistic, and he's literally happy where ever he is. I know I shouldn't but I feel bad being in his house (which is basically mine now) but I do. I miss him. He could be a big old Pain in the Butt sometimes, but I'd take the worst he gave to this. He wasn't evil or nothing, just bull headed. haha! He's been gone up there 4 weeks now and I haven't touched any of the house except my bedroom. I just can't, probably won't for a long time.
I got all my gardens planted with him before he left, they're so overgrown with weeds n grass right now it'd be a man-sized job to clean it up again. at least the corns tall enough to shadow out the weeds...lol
I ain't been on here much lately, I just don't feel like doing much of anything right now. I'm in a weird place is all. It's hard to go see him, cuz i feel bad. once I'm there though, I'm ok, talk with him and his new friends for a good while. then I feel awful again when I leave. Takes me an hour to go. I drive the truck up there when I go, cuz he enjoys seeing it and him and his friends that can come out to see it when I'm there. God they won't quit about the truck...lol they can't believe he bought it new and I still have it. 8)
This house is too empty for me. I have to turn his TV on sometimes so I feel like he's still there. I miss him. I miss him being here. God the house is dusty, but if he comes to visit (that in itself sucks; to visit his own house and have to go back) everythings right where he left it.
This sucks right now, and its weird, I don't like this crap. He's not depressed but I sure am. sounds backwards...
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Well Kenny, you're to be commended for your comments about your grandpa. We're going thru a family matter that has split up my wife's bros and sisters, and and you'd never find them saying such good things- it may never heal. So, reading your thoughts about him has been refreshing.
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My prayers are with you and grandad, that he is totally fine with his surroundings and you somehow see this is the best for both him and you. I finished my first hour in the rehab unit myself I met an elderly gentlemen with nothing but a smile on his face with an oxygen bottle in tow. Hang in there. My wife was a caretaker for a 93 yr old lady that was forced to go to a nursing home, she was never in this good of mind and has constant companionship. God Bless!!!
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Keep up the good work Kenny!
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One thing he said since he got back home last time... after a week or 2. he was kinda bored, missed his new friends. He is more active socially up at the home than he ever was here, and he's happy wherever he is. People used to call him "smiley" whatever happened he said screw it, we'll fix it. His old army quote he love and LIVE is "The difficult, we do right away, the impossible takes a little longer".
Here's a couple of pics he made me dig up to take to him to have in his photo album up there.
Me and him when I was 2.5 yrs old
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Roger%20Miller/MeandGrandad1982.jpg)
Me 4 playing on his tractor. this is the one I restored a couple of years ago
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Roger%20Miller/MeonFordTractor19852.jpg)
Me on a trip to his house when i was 3. the truck is my dads old white truck. he liked this pic cuz i loved that truck so much. i dont even reach the tail light...lol
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Roger%20Miller/Grandads-1983.jpg)
This was his wife, on our 1986 Iowa trip. thats the grey truck I own now. I love that pic too. The world got dimmer when my grandmother left it.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Roger%20Miller/GoingtoIA-1986.jpg)
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Kenny,
I just found this thread today. Great story, hopefully you Grampa is doing well
FItz
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Glad to see some proper appreciation for the elders, far too few have any these days. I wish you and your grandfather the best of luck, feels like everyone is going to need all the luck they can get this month. Been a bad end to May/start of June in my area.
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He gave me something the other day. He's not here but he made me dig through his closet for it. (I still haven't been thgough his stuff, and won't as long as he's alive) He gave me his army uniform, the one he has left, the one he wore home after the war was over. He married my grandmother in it, it was the one he came off the boat in when he got back to the states in 1946. I have the coat and 2 pair of pants. the shirt is gone, but i have the coat.
I'm feeling a bit better about it all. He's in such good hands.
I USED TO WORK MAINTENANCE AT A NURSING HOME 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE BAD HOMES. I QUIT AFTER 9 MONTHS CUZ I COULDNT HANDLE IT, THE NEGLECT, AS A MATTER OF FACT ON MY WA OUT I SENT COMPLAINTS TO THE COUNTY POLICE, THE STATE POLICE, THE CITY POLICE. They got things fixed up, ALL NEW STAFF, TOP TO BOTTOM. but I still DESPISE nursing homes even if they are good. I'll never change that opinion, but my grandad is in EXCELENT HANDS. IF I THOUGHT HE WASNT ID BE UP THERE WITH COPS SO THEY COULD EXPLAIN IT TO THEM. I'm extremely loud and abnoxious when I don't like something. These people are wonderful to him, but I still don't like the idea, though my mother made me understand recently, I'm not a doc, I'm not gonna be, I cant give him the care he needs and If I tried, it would be neglect.
So I'm feeling a lot better, I don't like it, but i can definately live with it.
Thanks for ALL YOU GUYS SUPPORT AND KIND WORDS. Of all the sites I've joined on the net, THIS ONE has the most BROTHERS on it. I love this site the most. CHRIS, you have an EXCELLENT SITE and it's attracted the best of people to it. You guys are my friends. And I'm happy to be on here with you.
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These people are wonderful to him, but I still don't like the idea, though my mother made me understand recently, I'm not a doc, I'm not gonna be, I cant give him the care he needs and If I tried, it would be neglect.
So I'm feeling a lot better, I don't like it, but i can definately live with it.
Kenny,
These words make a lot of sense. As you know from a past conversation outside of this thread, I am in a similar situation with my mom. She worked in a nursing home for 30 years. Although it was a good one, she might have seen things that she never shared with us. My family and I decided that we would do whatever it took no matter the cost or sacrifice from us to keep her in her home. I know that there might be a day when we can no longer care for her enough to justify keeping her in her home. We/mostly me because I am self employed spend more time with her lately than at home. Today I had to show her how the toaster worked (dementia), tomorrow if I have to show her again I will. It's all part of the care she needs that we can give her for now. My wife and I stay with her usually 5 days a week then some of my other family will come stay on the weekends. I don't look forward to the day that we can't do it anymore.
I admire and respect you for doing what you did and still do for your Grandad. You faced one of my biggest fears with a nursing home. I hope I can deal with it in a manner as you did if and when the time might come. Thank your mom from me for what she said to you, even though I new it already, it did me good to hear it on this forum too.
John
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Thanks man, It's great to hear from people who have been through this, hopefully this helps those of us not yet into these problems.
He's not getting less physically healthy, but he's definately slipping mentally. He had me hunting all over the nursing home today for his 3 canes. his room mate told me they were in the closet and there they were. I told him they were in there, and he said sober as a priest yeah they're in there, i put them there. It so funny, he just knew they were stolen and he was mad, then it went to that. they take great care of him though. i see him twice a week and bring him Captain D's fish once a week. the sad part now is that if i only saw him once or twice a year he probably wouldn't know. but thats not gonna happen. he's only 7 miles away so i'll be there.