Blog

Back in the late 1960s, I was in our shop (Sarasota Cycle & Key Shop) one day, by myself, when a trucker came in with a shipment for us. After he unloaded his goods he came into the shop to get a check for the shipping charges.

I asked him how much the charges were and he said $54.40 to which I replied: "Or Fight." He said, "No lady I don't want to fight, I just want a check for $54.40," to which I replied, "Don't you remember back in your history lessons in the mid 1800s there was a clash over the border between the US and Canada and the rallying cry was '54/40' or fight?" He looked at me like I had two heads and said: "No lady I just want a check for $54.40." I realized I shouldn't pursue this conversation any longer so I walked up to the front of the shop to get the check book and proceeded to write a check for him.

About that time a man walked into our shop with a wheel in hand for repairs. I looked up at him and told him I'd be right with him as soon as I finished writing a check and I turned to the trucker to verify the amount and when the trucker, who was getting a little perturbed with me by this time, said "It's $54.40" and with that the man with the wheel said: "Or fight."
 
I turned around and said to the man with the wheel: "I'm so glad you said that because I said the same thing to the trucker and he thinks I'm nuts". To which the wheel man replied: "Well I don't know about you but I am." I pointed to the front door and told the wheel man:  "Out, out and never darken my door again." 

The trucker grabbed the check and was scratching his head as he walked out and the wheel man and I stood there and roared. If this little scenario had been scripted it couldn't have been more perfect.  

Life’s good.