Banks Family

Lakewood Park holds an annual event where various city vehicles are parked in the lot and children can climb aboard and talk to the people who drive them. As soon as Aunt Susie told us about it, we knew we had Saturday morning plans. The lines were longest for David’s favorite, “A DIGGER!” But fortunately, Susie and family friend Laurie held our place in line — to be able to sit in the front seat — while David dashed around, climbed on the tires, sat in the shovel, inspecting it with quiet amazement.

See more photos from “Meet the Trucks” in the June 2008 gallery. We also visited a fire truck (seen above), Cushman scooter, garbage truck, ambulance, dump truck, and saw many more.

But Wait, There’s More!

With the help of new Cleveland resident Uncle Jon, Daddy put the final touches on David’s new and improved sandbox during the last of May. But the story gets better when the three of us drove off in search of new sand. We stopped briefly at a local rental and repair place that Joe frequents, and when Jon stepped back out of the store indicating they didn’t have any sand, we thought we were off to the next possible stop.

But David spied the back lot, filled with Bobcat-sized diggers, mini-loaders and other rentals, and insisted we get out of the car. Absolutely! David’s smile went from ear to ear, as he gazed upon and touched the various equipment. However, the owner of the store saw the look on David’s face, and insisted he get on the digger. I’m not sure who was more gleeful, David sitting in the seat, or Jon and Daddy watching him.

But then, the owner went one step further and said, “Well, I guess we’ll just have to turn the key on!” Holy moley! “Just move this lever here, which will move the arm up and down, and make sure you don’t touch the other one, which will move it from side to side. And don’t worry, he can’t hurt it any more than any of my customers.”

View the movie below, captured on Daddy’s cell phone, for actual footage of the event. Don’t worry, that’s Uncle Jon, partially hidden by the digger, standing next to David and watching carefully.

With a wink in his eye, Jon asked how much a daily rental would cost, say, for a birthday party. Upon hearing the reply, Jon remarked, “That has to be better than a clown!”

Also see below, the previously promised video of David dancing, near the stage at a recent Hessler Street Fair in University Circle. The boy’s got some rhythm!

Ride the Digger
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David Dances at Hessler Street Fair
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