~Vintage Sears Runner Sled~

Just a old Runner Sled you say.........Well to me this is a priceless piece, Stay with me for a great story !!.....My Father bought this for me on May 25 2011. The reason I remember the date so well is the Next day he went home to be with his Lord & Savour Jesus Christ.
My father and I had the same interests and loved "junkin'" we always went to yard sales, flea markets thrift stores and swap meets every chance we could ! Well he had been sick since January with heart trouble and had good days & better days as he would say...lol ! He had been in & out of the hospital staying as many as 13 days straight at the time. He had been home only 4 days from the hospital and told my mom he felt like going to town...so off they went!! At about 2pm he called me at work and said ....you busy?? I said a little.....he said...." you want a runner sled"...I said "How Much?" he said $10. I said "YEA" !.....he said ok talk to ya later! Bye ! .......Well that was the extent of our conversation as when we saw or bought something in mind for one another it was quick and to the point !
So about 5pm he called again to say stop by here when you get off work....I sad Ok !
So at 8pm I rolled into his drive (which is next door to me) and "he said look in the back of the wagon"....There was this old sled....rusty but "cool" to me !! I said I like it !! Great Find !! I offered my $10 in exchange for the sled and he wouldn't except....he said Keep it !! My son (11yrs. old)( southernpicker99)...came running across the yard to see the sled and we looked and admired what my dad had bought me ! As I was loading the sled into my truck....My father said..."Love ya son"...I said "love you man" he said "love you tater" (my sons Nickname)..he said "I love you"....and that was our last exchange of words on this earth......................!! (with tears as I type)..... I did not know until my mom told me the next day......My father stood in his window that night and whatched me as I went to the shop grabbed a Brillo and washed the old sled off.......he told my mom "I knew he couldn't stand it....he's down there now cleaning that old sled up"....he smiled"""... 'she said as He had Once again made "his son" Happy for one last time!!!......Just an Old Runner Sled......Not to me !! RIP JJ 5/8/38-5/26/11