You deserve it.

On Friday, I pulled into my in-laws long driveway, searching for a glimpse of the new present. My father-in-law had gotten home at four AM that morning. He had driven thousands of miles to pick up the well deserved gift that now sat under a tarp on the back of a trailer in the front of their house.

Gary is a mechanic by trade. He has worked on cars since he was a small boy, helping his own father with his mechanic work when he was young. Whether working for large companies or fixing a neighbor's car that sat in their driveway, Gary's talents were exemplified almost daily. Before retiring last year, he woke up at five every weekday morning to make it to work on time, and spent every weekend in his garage, usually under someone else's car. Having the skills that Gary does, you would think the Hardman family was well stocked with nice vehicles but that is far from reality. A multi-colored Dodge Colt, a dented up Ford Escort, a smoking VW Rabbit and a rusty old van are just a few of the many misfits that have lived at their home. Though Gary's dreams of having beautifully restored antiques (like his 1932 Ford 5 window Coupe that he's had since he was 16!), have always been part of him, life has rarely allowed him the time or money to see them fulfilled. That is why this gift was such an exciting one.



This is Gary's 1932 Hot Rod. He has already put it together once in his life. Now he has begun to rebuild it again. This has been in many pieces inside his garage for all of Sonny's life.




My mother-in-law, Bonnie, opened the back door while I got the kids unloaded from our car.
"Have you seen it? How does it look?" I asked with Christmas morning like anticipation.

"Not yet." She hadn't even seen it herself.

Gary was out front right then, taking the tarp off. We hustled down the stairs, through the garage and out to the driveway. Gary smiled wide as we approached the trailer. Showing off his new gift, with the pride much like a new father, he unveiled an almost perfectly restored 1920 Dodge Brothers Touring.

The antique black convertible had the same wooden wheels, Dodge Brother's emblems, and convertible roof that it did in its glory days. We "oooed" and "awwed" over it. When I told Bonnie and Gary I wanted to take a picture of them sitting inside, Gary ran into the house, returning a few minutes later with an authentic 1920's gentleman's hat on his head.








After relishing in all the fancy details and watching Gary (and Bonnie's) excitement grow over the new member in their family, I thought about how deserving my father-in-law was to get himself a gift like this. A man that has always worked so hard and never asked for much. Someone I look up to, not just for being a good, kind, father and grandfather, but for raising a son that is the same way. I am thankful to have him as an example for my boys. I hope that this gift can be a great teaching moment; that it may take a long time to get what you want, but with hard work and perseverance dreams can come true.