[AT] Charlie Hill

[bellville1 at gmail.com]

  Charlie
Thanks for your input. You said essentially the same thing Kevin had said, just in a nicer way. I am sure there are many of us who sometimes feel that there is a small group here who tend to look at the rest of us as poor, illiterate,and to "country " to be noticed by them for anything other than an occasional laugh. Some time back I ask a question about a magneto. I did get some responses that were helpful. One in particular I remember came from one of the "inner circle folks' I actually don't remember which one. His statement was that he had a CD of information on this right at his finger tips. Problem was he just didn't know which hand. I can understand that as we get older we tend to become childish and form our little circles where we can look at others around us as not being worthy of our time or recognition. That is OK. It comes with the territory of getting older I guess although it does not effect everyone. I see that Farmer goes to Portland and mingles with the inner circle, but he is a gentleman who will try to help others when he can. I don't see him as the type of person to try to belittle or "High Hat" as my Mama use to say, anyone.
 Yes here in Kentucky we are just common people, of the Common Wealth. We have a good sized herd of old tractors , we enjoy them, we don't try to empress anyone we just like them. As for hauling them approximately 500 miles to show off. No way.Our door is always open to anyone who would like to drop by to have a look and enjoy a cup of coffee.Sorry, folks we don't do beer.That's for the uptown crowed. Hill Billie's tend to prefer the Shine, Moon Shine that is.
 Farmer you have a good trip to Portland, you represent a lot of us common folks. You are a good guy, don't let the big guys mess with your friendly, and good natured personality.Thanks again Charlie for your comments on this matter
 I'm off my soap box now you guys carry on.


Irma
Western, KY
http://picasaweb.google.com/bellville1
http://members.tripod.com/~DairyGoats/index.html
Guys I didn't mean to start a fight.  I was just making a joke.  I'm glad 
that so many from this list and the rest of the antique tractor world can 
gather at Portland.  Maybe some day my time, money and priorities will line 
up correctly I will make it.  Farmer, Spencer is in the NW corner of the SE. 
He's about 4 hours closer to Portland than I am and we are, as you know, in 
the same state.  When I saw you at Arden I was 6 hours from my place.
Mapquest tells me you are 7 hrs 44 mins from Arden and you  are 4 states 
away.  This vast, wonderful country is like that.  Did you know that 
Tallahassee Florida is closer to Chicago than it is to Miami Fl?  But that 
is beside the point that I think Kevin was trying to make.  His point is one 
that I have been leaving alone for a long time but he is right so I'm going 
to try and restate it for him.

There IS very much a division on this list between the inner circle and the 
rest of us.  Those of you that the rest percieve to be in the inner circle 
might not even be aware of it but it exists.  A lot of the non-tractor but 
list related conversation on this lists centers on relationships built and 
discussions started at Portland.  Those of us that have not or can not 
attend the Portland show are very much aware of it.  It's a natural thing 
and I'm not blaming anyone for it but it's there.  Sometimes the rest of us 
feel like the stranger that walked up to the wood stove in the country 
store.  It's not the strangers fault that the boys at the stove don't really 
know him or completely trust him and it's not the regular gangs fault that 
the stranger feels out of place.  Non the less the barrier exists.

To use the two folks already in the middle of this as examples:  Kevin and I 
don't know each other except for what we percieve from reading the words on 
this list.  I know that in my case the way you guys see me is limited 
somewhat by my inadequate skills as a writter.  I'm sure Kevin feels the 
same way.  However, you guys get together at Portland you discuss the list 
and everyone on it.  I know that is true because Cecil Monson told me that I 
was discussed there and we all know Cecil didn't lie about anything.  I've 
met a few of the Portland gang.  I met Farmer and Herb in Arden last fall. 
I think it's fair to say Herb and Farmer see me differently since they have 
had a chance to see and talk to ME and not just my ability to put words on 
paper.

The connections and understanding and friendships that you guys have built 
at Portland spill over onto the list and it makes the rest of us sometimes 
feel like the strager at the wood stove.  It's not just on this list.  The 
same thing is true on other lists.  I know that Cecil hung out over on 
AllisChalmers.com a lot but he didn't post much on there.
I guess maybe because he didn't know the folks or didn't feel that he had 
anything to contribute but he is the one that turned me on to that site. 
Well when he died I posted a message on that list and didn't even get a 
reply.  It's not that they aren't good guys.  They just didn't know him and 
they didn't know me either so they just ignored the message.  It's a natural 
human thing.

The only thing that can change that is for all of us to go to Portland but 
that should not be a requirement for inclusion on this list......should it?

Charlie