My Grandmothers Cadillac (Long post)

[bersaguy]

   I was thinking about Steelharps jobs posts and the one about the guy in the work clothes that bought the SS Monte Carlo and it reminded me of something about my Grandmother the post reminded me of.
     My Grandmother was a business lady and very smart and worked in Chicago since she moved there with my mother in 1932. I grew up around her as I was born in 1948 and all the time while growing up I would remember my Grandmother saying, "One day I will own a Cadillac." At the time she was driving a 1954 Oldsmobile 98. Every year she would go look at the Cadillacs in the show rooms and say to me "One day I will own a Cadillac."
    Well about 2 years before we moved South. My Grand Mother had retired from the job she had held since 1938. From then on my Grandmother and step grandfather lived a modest lifestyle even though they were very weathy. Many times we would go visit and my Grandmother would be dressed almost like a bag lady living on the street but she said it was comfortable. All the years she worked she had to dress very fit and proper right down to her makeup.
   Well, she had made up her mind it was time to buy a new car and she was going to get her Cadillac and she ask me to take her since her and my Step grandfather was fussing since he didn't think she needed a new car. She said it was her money and if she wanted a Cadillac she would buy a Cadillac. They argued alot.
   I thought she would dress up some but nope. She was comfortable right down to her tennis shoes with the holes cut in them for her corns to stick out of. She had a huge black bag purse and a dress that looked like a bag drapped over her and her hair up in a bun. (I think you can get the picture).
   Well we arrive at Loftus Cadillac in Oak Lawn Illinois and on the show room floor was the car she wanted. A beautiful Teal Blue Sedan D'ville. She approached a salesman and began to ask him about the car and he looked at her and walked away. 1st mistake!!! She followed him and tried to ask him again and again he walked away. Mistake #2. She gave him one more try and finally he told her to go away. Strike 3 and your out, literally. She walked up to the receptioness desk and ask if the owner was in and she said he was but he was busy and she said fine we will wait and we walked over and sat down and waited. About 5 minutes later the owner came out of his office and spoke with the receptiontist and then came and ask us if he could help and my Grandmother said I hope so and we went into his office. First she said I have come here to buy a car but your salesman does not want to sell me one.
   She told him what the salesman did and the owner said I will be more than glad to help you personally and he asked her how she planned on paying for the car and which car she wanted. She told him which car and said Cashiers Check and she just needed a total cost and you can call my bank to get it approved. They did all the paper work and the man called her bank to confirm she had the funds on hand. After calling the bank he got even more polite to her.
    He handed the papers over to my grandmother to sign and she said I will sign them after you do one more thing for me and she took him to the door way of his office, pointed out the salesman and ask that he be spoken to about how he treated her.
    The owner ask her to have a seat and he walked out and spoke with the salesnan and the salesman had to come in and apologize to her for his actions. I kind of felt a little sorry for him but it was also a learning experience for him at the same time.

Edited September 3, 2018 by bersaguy

[res308]

Excellent post! Sometimes we don't know who we're dealing with, what their station in life is, or what their financial situation is. For the most part, none of that should matter anyway. We'll do a lot more good if we always treat people with respect and dignity, at least as long as they will allow themselves to be treated that way.