Story of Stu-Part 3!

Just after moving to Cherry Hill I went to work at my uncle's drug store in Camden Nj, I started there shortly after the infamous riots that destroyed almost every business for blocks on each side of the drug store. Legend has it, and many stories I heard first hand make me a believer, a contingent of neighbors stood arm in arm protecting the store. Every single night I left that store local gang members were waiting for me to leave, after shooting the bull they'd escort me to my car. I never felt safer, obviously my uncle was a beloved figure in the neighborhood! The first neighbor I met when we got to Cherry Hill was good ole Mr Wilson, I don't think I ever greeted him in any other fashion than HEY MR WILLLLLLSON! Mr Wilson was the one that started teaching me auto repair, it started by accident. I went to visit a friend in Philly, upon trying to go home the car wouldn't start. Mr Wilson came from Jersey and towed me home. He refused to tell me what was wrong with the car, instead teaching me why each of my diagnosis were wrong. Finally decided, with his guidance it had to be the timing chain, quite a job to replace in my Buick! He instructed me in the disassembly, proper installation of the replacement parts and everything that went with it. About every 10 minutes asking me if I was listening carefully as it was crucial, especially with those parts. The second I finished he said,"you did great for your first attempt, the car won't start though" I protested and said but I did everything you said! He answered, "you did everything as I said except for lining up the gears correctly, take it apart and fix it" I did and never made that mistake again, in fact my only other mistake in fixing cars came a few years later, I had bet someone that I could remove and reinstall a transmission in an old Chevy in 30 minutes! I did it in 19 minutes, well below the 6.5 hours the book time allowed on it. Only problem was in my haste I forgot to put the torque converter(torque conv joins engine and transmission)back in! Lost $50! But the lessons Mr Wilson gave me on that one car went a long way, I love him and miss him! I became the 16 year old neighborhood mechanic, fixed everyone's cars, homes, plumbing, electrical problems, everything and anything and never took a cent. As I said in an earlier post I started my first business in high school, it was called Electronics Unlimited, I installed radios, alarms and other electronic toys of the day. I met an incredible human being named Jerry Berman, he owned numerous Radio Shack Stores. He started referring all his customers to me and always refused commissions, in fact had me install a radio in his daughter's car and insisted on paying! Just a great guy! People have always treated me special and right! In my next post we shall see where Electronics Unlimited took me! Thanks for reading! Stu Ps. For those waiting for the dirt and my transgressions I estimate we should see some good stuff by part 10! Lol