Login Register Sign up for the GRM e-newsletter

Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » Some days are just more suureal than others...
  • neckromacr

    June 16, 2009 11:33 p.m. neckromacr New Reader

    I was winding down my day at work when I heard the clatter of 2-stroke motor. I quickly saw the source, as an old man on a moped scooted towards my autoshop garage bays. He pulled up in front of me and asked if I had any hand tools he could borrow to help replace his tattered moped seat with a newer one.

    I don't generally hand out tools as they tend to never come back, not to mention his demeanor seemed a bit on the odd side and the very aged prison tatoos from neck to knuckles inhibited any urge to hand out any tools. But his demeanor was nice enough and I offered to swap the seats myself. After a moment of very minor labor it was done.

    I didn't expect any compensation, as it was a very simple task, but he offered it anyway: A Genuine Duncan Butterfly Yo-Yo, one of many that were strapped to a parcel rack on the back of the moped.

    It made me think though, he may not have much in the way of cash, but he felt the need to repay my kindness so he gave what he had.

    And if someone asked me if I wanted to earn a yo-yo this morning I would have looked at them like they were insane. But I've been playing with it all day, musing on this suureal moment of my day.

  • Goldmember

    June 16, 2009 11:42 p.m. Goldmember Reader

    Some days are confusing at first, but quite amusing when you look back upon them. And its always refreshing when you run into someone who realizes that there is real value on your time, even if his currency may be a little "out of the box".

    I love Duncans, especially the B-flys!

  • griffin729

    June 17, 2009 12:39 a.m. griffin729 New Reader

    Dude! Totally fair compensation.

  • zoomx2

    June 17, 2009 5:52 a.m. zoomx2 New Reader

    The only thing that would have made that better is if the yo-yo was glow in the dark.

  • Woody

    June 17, 2009 8:44 a.m. Woody SuperDork

    zoomx2 wrote:

    The only thing that would have made that better is if the yo-yo was glow in the dark.

    They actually made a lighted Version of the Duncan Butterfly. It was clear, colored plastic (I remember green) and took, I think, two AA's. They would light up when they were spinning.

    (clicking over to e-Bay......)

  • Josh

    June 17, 2009 9:01 a.m. Josh HalfDork

    Duncan made glow in the dark ones too, I had one when I was about 8.

  • BobOfTheFuture

    June 17, 2009 9:21 a.m. BobOfTheFuture Reader

    Psh!

    Imperial all the way...

  • 4cylndrfury

    June 17, 2009 9:35 a.m. 4cylndrfury HalfDork

    BobOfTheFuture wrote:

    Psh!

    Imperial all the way...

    bwahahahaha

    FWIW, I had a buddy end up with 9 stitches above his eye last year re-learning around the world with 2 yo yos simultaneously ...yo yos rule...I still have my IMPERIAL, and I can still rock the baby at will

  • MiatarPowar

    June 17, 2009 9:39 a.m. MiatarPowar HalfDork

    This story made me smile.

    ...And now I want to find my old yo-yos that are hidden deep in the closet.

  • friedgreencorrado

    June 17, 2009 12:09 p.m. friedgreencorrado HalfDork

    BobOfTheFuture wrote:

    Psh!

    Imperial all the way...

    Yup. A Butterfly's just an Imperial put together backwards! I wonder where my green one is...

  • NYG95GA

    June 17, 2009 2:44 p.m. NYG95GA SuperDork

    Weird. I was re-keying a defuct promotional item print company just a couple of days ago, and found a promo (no-name) yo-yo.

    Haven't owned one in 30 years, but I've been having a good time with it.

  • ClemSparks

    June 17, 2009 2:51 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

    Awesome exchange!

    I just love it when things work out that way.

    A friend and I "earned" a beer one day for stopping to check on some folks on the side of the road. We had the wrench they needed...

    Clem

  • Mental

    June 17, 2009 4:27 p.m. Mental SuperDork

    Kharma rules. I bet a fellow like that is in tune with peaple enough to know you would apprecaitte that yo yo.

  • Woody

    June 17, 2009 6:06 p.m. Woody SuperDork

    If he took the time to fasten yo-yos to the back of his moped, I'd be willing to bet that they represented significant value to him. I think that you were handsomely rewarded for your assistance, yo.

  • motomoron

    June 17, 2009 10:52 p.m. motomoron New Reader

    There used to be a guy fitting that description in Rockville MD in the mid-90's. He worked as a roadside sign-flipper for a mattress store in the summer and literally hobo-ed his way south in the winter. He had a battered mountain bike with racks and bags and crap strapped into milk crates and a trailer made out of a stolen Magliner handtruck. Crazy, interesting guy. He came in the bike shop I was working in needing some sort of adjustment he couldn't handle with his small assortment of tools. I did the 5 minute job and told him not to worry about paying. He rummaged in one of the milk crates and produced 3 or 4 foot tall stuffed plush Gumbys w/ little suction cups on their little rounded, green hands and feet.

    "Here you go!" said he.

    My new job pays way, way better, but it's seldom this interesting.

  • Apexcarver

    June 18, 2009 12:23 a.m. Apexcarver SuperDork

    i have 2 duncan imperials that were my good yoyo's when i was younger, when i hit middle school it was all about the yomega fireball.

    sounds like a great reward for helping a guy out.

  • foxtrapper

    June 18, 2009 7:16 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

    I loved the butterfly. That was the yoyo I could work the best. Very tolerant of sloppy operation.

 
Tire Rack- Revolutionizing Tire Buying

You'll need to log in to post.