June 30, 2011
I said goodbye to an old friend on Friday. And it was because of neglect I said goodbye. While mowing a week ago with our 1965 Ariens Emperor I got off to move our stumps that provide “sitting spots” around our fire pit. I had started to move a picnic table and the mower went clunk and quit completely.
After Mike tried to start it, we checked the oil…empty. I know no one has sympathy for me. I felt awful and of course guilty.
Hondo’s (Erik Mosbo) in Sioux Rapids who is an Ariens dealer had a used John Deere that we purchased and he will use our Ariens for display in his shop along with a 1970’s Ariens snowblower…..demonstrating how reliable an Ariens is!
My Grandpa and Grandma (Adolph and Marie Gregersen) bought it in 1965 as they were moving into town and retiring from the farm. From there it went to my parents (Melvin and Clara [Gregersen] Samuelson) and spent time on the farm north of Alta from which my grandparents retired. In about 1999 my parents gave it to us (Mike & Colleen Last) to use at Loon Lake
The gas tank had a leak early in our ownership. I ordered a replacement in Sioux City
The front end of the mower was connected to the rear but not fixed. This meant when you were mowing the steering wheel and your “sitter” didn’t move in sync…instead one might go right and the other left or one went up and the other down.
One 4th of July The Limo had a flat tire and our three grandchildren had more fun playing on it….pretend driving, giving rides, and of course squabbling over who got the seat. If only I’d known parking it would provide a day’s worth of entertainment.
Farewell Limousine….and by the way Hondo forgave my sin of omission!
