Cranks My Tractor

Valentine's Day is in the Bag...

This is a story about a lady named Margaret and her relationship with a fellow who did her wrong. You shouldn’t do people wrong – especially when they are smart enough to make you look foolish. This is even more the case when it’s a woman with a “mad on” at you for doing her wrong.

This lady’s name was Margaret and she was born on Valentine’s Day back in 1838. I bet you haven’t heard of her, but you really ought to know about Margaret Knight and her experience with men or at least one man in particular.

Margaret’s daddy died when she was very young leaving her with no choice other than to join her brothers working in the factory after very little schooling. Born in Maine, Margaret went to school until she was 12.

Then she went to work in a cotton mill…

What is in Love Potion Number 9?

With February comes Valentine’s Day and all the hoopla that comes with it. Jewelry stores, candy makers and the folks at Hallmark Cards seem to “love” Valentine’s Day the most. The rest of us seem to just go through the motions.

A lot of folks think Hallmark invented the holiday just so they could sell a lot of cards.

However, the true “Saint Valentine” is somewhat of a mystery. There are varying schools of thought and legends of where the original Saint Valentine came in and little naked angels with curly hair started shooting folks with arrows and hitting them in the head with candy hearts. I’m not Catholic and I don’t know much about the saints.

The Queen with a dirty face

Stay with me on this one, it will be worth it. In this story, I will give you a Queen of Hearts that I bet you remember. She will be in my heart forever.  This will complete our “Royal Heart Flush” for Valentine’s Day.

The years pass and I miss my Daddy. Valentine’s Day was his birthday, as it should have been. He loved unconditionally and reveled in helping you with problems. The way he said “sweetheart” would make the butter in the refrigerator melt.

Dream King of Bluegrass

The King of Hearts is the only King without a mustache. Did you ever notice that? It took centuries for him to lose his mustache, but he finally did. Poor craftsmanship distorted the original designs, resulting in many details being lost. The King of Hearts lost his moustache and his axe. He now holds a sword.

What would a King need an axe for anyway?

It shouldn’t be surprising that a fellow, who writes about what cranks his tractor, likes a little bluegrass music every now and then. When you think of bluegrass, you think of fiddles, banjos, mandolins and probably the Beverly Hillbillies (you watch too much TV).

Hearts and Helmets

You always peek carefully. You raise the corner of the card and peek. The anticipation of the cards and possibility of being dealt a good hand is exciting. Shuffle and deal, if life and love were only so simple.

We want that Ace of Hearts. The Ace of Hearts is said to bring love and happiness. Who would not want love and happiness? When you peek and see that “A” and that heart; it kind of cranks your tractor.

Other meanings fortune tellers give the card are "home" and "receiving a love letter." Home should be about love and who doesn’t yearn for a love letter? Again, deal me that Ace, the one with a heart.

A Perfect 10

The first card for our “Royal Heart Flush” is the 10 of hearts. I don’t think cards have particular meanings or significance. However, it’s the season of love and I’ll give it a shot.

The term “success in love” often comes up when you research the 10 of hearts. This is a good term to describe my “Phone a Friend” Phyllis who called me by mistake. I now talk to her on a regular basis.

At 90 years-old, Phyllis has been very successful in love. She has outlived a husband, son and other relatives and friends. When I ask her how to explain such things? Her response is “It wasn’t my decision.” Phyllis seems to have an answer for everything. These answers are why I enjoy speaking to her so much.