Water and Fire

So you know that I work part time at UPS and that my buddy, the one I quote so often, works there as well.  We work part-time and own businesses.  He sells water.  That is to say that the business that he owns services a small town with drinking water.  If you move there and are within his service area, you call him to hook up your water (or drill a well).  The town he services is probably a blog unto itself because of the unique makeup of its residents, known as Hallies.  

They come from all over the country, coast to coast.  They are old and young.  Some have several kids and some are grandparents with their kids moved out.  A great number of them will home-school their kids, some will go the the closest public school.  They all love dogs.  Lots and lots of dogs.  Most of them living with them.  Actually they love animals.  Goats are a favorite, but they have horses and cats too. 

They have a few things in common.  They more than likely are truck drivers (or are the friends of truck drivers that already live there).  The other thing is that they all bought their "ranchette" from a man with the last name Hall.  Hallies.  This man advertises in trucker magazines and promises easy financing.  Usually he will finance the property on a contract for deed arrangement, sometimes selling them site unseen.  Many are used houses, not pre-owned.  Pre-owned would be upscale.  Many are sub standard in construction and unfinished.  

The worst thing about the whole deal is the buyers.  Most of them are hard working people that think they have found a great deal and move to this town only to find the truth, and it is not as good as was promised.  The other side of the story is that this deal also attracts a small sub section of our country that live in a manner unknown to most Americans.  The kind of people that can't afford a car but some how manage to buy a riding lawn mower and then use it to "drive" the two miles to town, trailer in tow (for the groceries).   I will address this sub section from time to time.  

OK  I tell you all of this to get to the point that my Buddy has to deal with this unordinary group of people.  And oh, does he have some stories to tell.  I have the privilege of hearing these stories, whether I want to or not.  You see, we work across a conveyor belt from each other.  During the entire time we work he relates the interactions he has with the Hallies.  

Now water and fire.  My buddy, in the past, did not charge the local fire department for their water at the fire station.  If I remember correctly, he has to provide water for a fire/emergency.  But at the station he would donate the water, that is until he realized the extent they go to keep the fire engines clean.  Super clean.  It got to the point that he was donating the equivalent of many, many hundreds of dollars a year to the fire department.  

So what IS the deal with keeping them so clean.  It is not unique to my buddy's town.  I have seen it other places too.  Does the dirt create such a drag that their response time is diminished?  Does the incredible shine in some way reflect the heat, protecting the firemen?  Or is it a pride thing?  "Hey Freddy Joe.  I saw your truck on channel twelve last night.  Can't seem to keep it clean, can you?"  

I suppose it is more of a boredom issue.  They need something to do to pass the time.  Haven't they heard of sudoku?  Or TV?  Whatever it is it seems excessive.  

El Toro Negro