Old timer chevy mechanic found

[beanyard]

I was talking to a WWII vet today at church and found out that after serving in the war he was a chevy mechanic from 1947 on. I talked to him for quite a while and told him I would be thinking of historic type questions. He knows a lot about the 235 engine for example.
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[OrrieG]

He could be my father...unfortunately he is to far into dementia to have a serioius converstation with, mostly talks about what he is seeing, mostly general stuff from before the war or fight after.

[beanyard]

This guy is sharp as a tack with war and truck stuff though.
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[Dan in Pasadena]

I found a nice little shop in a tough part of town recommended by a friend. Two guys in their 70's own it & have since their early 20's when every car was domestic. Now mostly imports. Took my '55 in and they get an actual thrill out of working their real love: old Chevy, Ford, Mopars. They thanked ME for bringing it in!
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[Denee007]

Back in the day when I did home health physical therapy and nursing homes, I ran across many men and women in their later years with incredible stories from their day/history; a sniper, pilots, a lady that worked on assembly line of airplanes, only ones that come to mind, but there were many life stories to be heard. We tend to not listen to our past while there is much to learn from our past generations.
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[NEWFISHER]

I have always wished the old folks homes had campfires to sit around and listen.

[OrrieG]

Great idea, a couple of years ago my brother took Dad out road hunting. Just being in the woods with a load rifle really perked him up and got him talking about his hunting stories. They have also found that a lot of dementia patients start getting more memories and talkative if the get to listen to music from their earlier years. I think there are some youtube videos that show what happens when they do that. I know my Dad started declining when he had his shop property condemed and did not replace it. He used to spend 4-6 hours a day tinkering on old jeeps and other stuff.

[1project2many]

They have also found that a lot of dementia patients start getting more memories and talkative if the get to listen to music from their earlier years.

My friends grandfather served in a sub in WWII. He claimed they were sent to torpedo ships in Japan after Pearl Harbor (with success), and they fought in Midway after that. He served as a mechanic in the engine room.

He'd been quiet for years with worsening dementia but one day when I stopped by he lit up, said "Hi!" and started talking as if we'd been friends forever. I must have reminded him of someone he served with because he started out talking to me as if I'd been on the sub, but then seamlessly he was telling stories as if he knew we were in 2010. He went on for hours and everyone learned plenty about his life that they'd never heard about before. It was pretty cool and I guess he never really had any moments after when he seemed "all there" like that day.