Among many fond memories and wonderful places I could write about Sanborn, (Yep, I mean Sanborn, Iowa; my hometown. For those of you who don’t know me that well, or to the dismay of those that do, I’m filled with hometown pride!) one of my favorite places was the Station (or Total Tire and Service or Vander Woude Oil or DX.) For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Station was my grandpa’s mechanic business that he bought and co-owned with Merle Vander Woude from Merle's dad. My dad started working there as a kid and eventually bought the business with his work partner, Roy. The Station closed in 2007.
I started this as a job-finding blog and shared several of my past work experiences, but I never wrote about the Station, the very first place I worked. I used to sweep the floors and clean the bathroom on Saturday mornings and fill the pop machine. Every once in awhile I had to vacuum a car out. At the time, I was convinced was SUCH a chore…child labor for sure!
Many, many of my childhood memories revolve around that place...
When I was little, I would sit in our kitchen sink and watch for my dad to come from work through the window above the sink (The station is only 4 lots down from our house.) I got stitches in my chin (and still have the scars to prove it) from falling there. I got suckers (Tootsie Pops, of course) from my grandpa there. I got to ride in the DX truck with my grandpa to deliver fuel and hand out those Tootsie pops to country kids. I watched from home for the lights to turn off at the Station to know it was time to set the supper table.
I drove shop trucks with rusty holes in the floors. I sprayed the car wash clean with my dad on Saturday nights . I had crushes on the high school boys that worked for Dad. I remember bringing and joining my dad (and Roy) for lunch (probably more fondly than my mom and Karen remember making it.:) During those lunches I remember Grandpa scraping frosting off of cake and adding a thick layer of butter (because Grandma wasn't watching him there:).
I got to ride in the front seat of the semi with my dad to get fuel….all the way to Milford where we got fuel from either the blue building (without candy) or the tan building (with candy.) I swept up peanut shells that were tossed on the floor by costumers enjoying the Christmas box of nuts. I waited for Mary’s bus to pick me up on the first day of high school and many other days after that. I visited my dad at work there in my prom dress. I talked to my dad about my life’s drama and dreams there.
When I was little, I would sit in our kitchen sink and watch for my dad to come from work through the window above the sink (The station is only 4 lots down from our house.) I got stitches in my chin (and still have the scars to prove it) from falling there. I got suckers (Tootsie Pops, of course) from my grandpa there. I got to ride in the DX truck with my grandpa to deliver fuel and hand out those Tootsie pops to country kids. I watched from home for the lights to turn off at the Station to know it was time to set the supper table.
I drove shop trucks with rusty holes in the floors. I sprayed the car wash clean with my dad on Saturday nights . I had crushes on the high school boys that worked for Dad. I remember bringing and joining my dad (and Roy) for lunch (probably more fondly than my mom and Karen remember making it.:) During those lunches I remember Grandpa scraping frosting off of cake and adding a thick layer of butter (because Grandma wasn't watching him there:).
I got to ride in the front seat of the semi with my dad to get fuel….all the way to Milford where we got fuel from either the blue building (without candy) or the tan building (with candy.) I swept up peanut shells that were tossed on the floor by costumers enjoying the Christmas box of nuts. I waited for Mary’s bus to pick me up on the first day of high school and many other days after that. I visited my dad at work there in my prom dress. I talked to my dad about my life’s drama and dreams there.
I could go on and on…but I think you get the point…it was a special place. It was our family business and tied us to other families that we still hold dear. My dad holds memories of his dad and his childhood there. My mom supported my dad’s work there for the first 20 + years of their marriage and through all the births and raising of their kids. My siblings and I grew up there. My brother-in-law asked my dad to marry my sister there. I learned about the importance of honesty, supporting local businesses, building relationships with others, how to treat costumers, and so much more at the Station. And those are only MY memories…
Despite all the stress of business and through every blessing, the Station was home.
After sitting empty for several years, the station was bulldozed over today, so for me, and I’m sure for others, today is a sad day because the physical place, full of many memories and nostalgia, is gone. Although I’m a firm believer that things are just things and have no eternal value or worth, sometimes things are painful to loose. And saying good-bye to the station, even after sitting empty for almost 5 years, still hurts. And yet today is a happy day where I get to reflect on a joyful childhood, the gift of family, blessings of growing up in small town, and God’s grace and providence in opening new doors when He closes others.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21
