had an idea. He offered to park his old F-150 across the new driveway on my grandparents’ land to send a message. Grandpa agreed, and the next morning, the rusty truck sat across the driveway with a note: Private Property. Trespassers Will Be Reported.The construction crew was immediately halted, and the foreman was forced to call the boss. The neighbor called Grandpa, threatening to tow the truck, but Grandpa remained calm, knowing he was in the right. Days passed with no construction and much neighborhood gossip. When the neighbor finally called Grandpa again,
he demanded what he wanted. Grandpa’s reply: “An easement contract, fair market value, in writing.” A week later, the deal was done. The truck was removed, my grandparents used the money to fix their porch and donate to the local food bank, and Patrick got a thank-you card and a few beers. The neighbor never looked my grandparents in the eye again, and Grandpa remarked, “If he’d just asked nicely, we probably would’ve let him use the land for free.” Some lessons, like respect, have to be learned the hard way—and sometimes, all it takes is a rusty old truck.