HELP . . . READERS' OPINION URGENTLY REQUIRED . . .
Here's a real stumper for you, our faithful readers.
We were just getting settled in at our new location; still trying to get organized and, most important, stay on schedule with the magazine.
I was hauling gravel for our shop driveway one day and everyone else was very busy; cleaning, sorting, etc.
Just as I had dumped a load of gravel and pulled up to the sidewalk to run in and grab a coffee, this so-called "gentleman" stepped in and asked if he could see me for a moment. I answered him, "just give me 30-seconds to pour a coffee."
As soon as I returned to the lobby, this "gentleman" introduced himself and explained he worked for the Prince Edward Island Department of Environment and asked me where my Junkyard Licence was. My wife Danita and I explained we don't junk cars; we restore them.
The "gentlemen" then stated "You have a lineup of junk outside" and stated this very rudely, as if god himself appointed him.
After explaining again that we restored these cars, he, within 30-seconds, told us twice more that they were junk.
Well, I usually always try to keep my cool, but we take pride in what we do and I, in no uncertain terms, told him where the highway was and that maybe he better get traveling on it, and to be sure he never came back. This "gentleman" (I hate calling him that but I do not want to print the real term to explain this man) then tried to bait me into threatening him but I didn't take the bait, just pointed out the highway to him again, in no uncertain terms.
This all took place around 5:30 p.m. and I continued to work late that evening, with this really bothering me inside, right up until about 11 p.m., when I took a break from work, to think it all over.
It only took about two minutes of relaxing before I started smiling inside and said to myself; "We'll have some fun with this. We'll ask our readers their opinion on this "bureaucratic idiot's" knowledge.
I didn't get this mans name that day, so the next morning I made a call to PEI Environment and they put me through to him on his cell phone. I explained to him that we were going to get our readers' opinion on his knowledge and he abruptly hung up on me.
A couple of hours later I had a visit from the RCMP, just as I expected. Now this "gentleman" is trying to say I threatened him.
Am I ever looking forward to this man plagiarizing himself in a court of law. I'm sure glad that besides me, there were seven other people here who witnessed this episode. As Jake told me later; "I thought you were going to kill him Dale, but you kept your cool somehow and never laid a hand on him or even threatened him; just told him where he better go."
This is not the end of the story . . . A week or so later, at 5:15 p.m. on a Thursday evening, my brother-in-law Peter Griffin, dropped into the shop and, laughing, told me "I think there is a possie gathering together just down the road, after you." Peter's words were hardly out of his mouth when a Department of Wildlife truck, a truck from PEI Environment and an RCMP car drove in. Again, junkyard was the first subject and then to the subject of unsightly premises.
I chatted with these officials for the best part of an hour, not taking any of their comments seriously . . . when the conversation turns to stupidity, I let everything in one ear and out the other. I've got too many important things to think about.
Well enough rambling, back to the subject at hand. Please give me your opinion on this "junk." Phone, fax or email your comments.
Dale
Back to main page