A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old
grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his
step faltered.
The family ate together at the table. But, the elderly grandfather's shaky
hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto
the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
His son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess." We must do something
about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of the spilled milk, noisy
eating, and food on the floor."
So, the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There Grandfather ate
alone, while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken
a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his
eye, as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp
admonitions, when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched
it all in silence.
One evening, before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps
on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?"
Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and
Mama to eat food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to
stream down their cheeks. Though, no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening, the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the
family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And,
for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was
dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen,
and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide
a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest
of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being
laid for the child's future.
Let's be wise builders.
~Author Unknown~
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WD40 History
Submitted by Dr Jim Kirby
he product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protectmissile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San DiegoRocket Chemical Company. It's name comes from the project that was to find a"water displacement" compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.
The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their Atlas missile parts. The workers were so pleased with the product, they began smuggling (also known as"shrinkage" or "stealing") it out to use at home. The executives decided there might be aconsumer market for it and put it in aerosol cans. The rest, as they say, is history.
It is a carefully guarded recipe known only to four people. Only one of them is the "brew master." There are about 2.5million gallons of the stuff manufactured each year. It gets it's distinctive smell from a fragrance thatis added to the brew. Ken East says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.
Here are some of the uses
Protects silver from tarnishing
Cleans and lubricates guitar strings
Gets oil spots off concrete driveways
Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery
Keeps flies off cows
Restores and cleans chalkboards
Removes lipstick stains
Loosens stubborn zippers
Untangles jewelry chains
Removes stains from stainless steel sinks
Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill
Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing
Removes tomato stains from clothing
Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots
Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors
Keeps scissors working smoothly
Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes
Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide
Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers Rids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises
Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close
Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers
Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles
Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans
Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons and bicycles for easy handling Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools
We're not through.
Here's more; Removes splattered grease on stove
Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging
Lubricates prosthetic limbs
Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell)
Removes all traces of duct tape
I have even heard of folks spraying it on their arms, hands, knees, etc., to relieve arthritis pain.
One fellow claims spraying it on fishing lures attracts fish.
WD-40 has been designated the "official multipurpose problem-solver of NASCAR," a ringing endorsement if there ever was one.
In celebration of their 50th year, the company conducted a contest to learn the favorite uses of it's customers and fan club members, (Yes, there is a WD-40 Fan Club).
They compiled the information to identify the favorite use in each of the 50 states.
Naturally I was curious about Georgia and Alabama and found the favorite use in both states was that it "penetrates stuck bolts, lug nuts, and hoseends."
Florida's favorite use was "cleans and removes lovebugs from grills and bumpers."
California's favorite use was penetrating the bolts on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Let me close with one final, wonderful use--the favorite use in the state of New York--WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
No wonder they have had 50 successful years.
Published in U S Legacies Magazine June 2004
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