I’ve been working at Nilson Brothers Garage in East Oakland
since 1976, and have owned it since April Fool’s Day 1983. So many gritty and
humorous events have happened inside and outside the shop, I’ve mentioned in
other posts I often feel like the gatekeeper in the Twilight Zone. Another
instance of that happened when a customer dropped off his Cad for a diagnostic
check, and to get one of the Oxygen Sensors out. He had a couple shops try, but
they were afraid to strip the threads and ruin the exhaust manifold thereby
causing a thousand dollars in damage over a hundred dollar part. I didn’t blame
them.
Recognizing the customer’s name during the phone call before
he brought in the Cad, I looked through my extensive records quickly. Lo and
behold the gatekeeper was indeed right about knowing this gentleman. He had
last brought a vehicle into my shop back in March of 1992. Yep, cue up the ‘Zone’
music. Over twenty-one years had passed in the blink of an eye since the
gatekeeper had worked on this customer’s vehicles.
I met him yesterday morning with my clipboard, and asked him
if he still lived on such and such street. He laughed and said no, he’d moved
out of the area a long time ago, but now was back living in Hayward. We shared
a few memories about his past vehicles left in my care decades ago. People are
always surprised when they find me still at the shop, but I have a duty as the
gatekeeper at the Twilight Zone of Nilson Brothers Garage to be on duty. :)
The gatekeeper then worked his magic yesterday, extracting
the feared Oxygen Sensor without causing a thousand dollars damage, and all was
again right with the cosmos.
In writing news I hit #56 on the Most Popular Author’s in
Action and Adventure Fiction page this morning. My ten minutes of fame has finally
hit, so the gatekeeper is basking in this news while it lasts. :)
Here's the link, but I don't know how many seconds my name and picture will be in that hallowed position. Fame is fleeting. :) Amazon Most Popular Authors in Action and Adventure
4 comments:
the gatekeeper! Sure you didn't play a role in Ghostbusters?
Yep, that was me, Charles. I was a little shorter then. :)
Wtg, Bernard!
I hope you took a screenshot of the #56 event. That's really something!
And now I'm wondering, gatekeeper...do you still have the comic book store?
I did, Raine. I made it to #55 before my star began to fade. :) Yes, I still have my comic shop. My supplier passed away last year, and I'm working on a different plan along with the other million things in the Gatekeeper's time warp. :)
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