Jarmo, Yankee Cars and Junk
Everyone laughed at the young Jarmos ideas. Junk yard in Österbybruk – you? Hahaha! Today, he owns everything, is free of debt and release the reins to daughters and younger brother. If you are young and want to follow your dream but hesitating – read this and make an Jarmo.
Jarmo Rahkonen went out through the gates for the last time at the Forsmark nuclear power plant. The construction was completed. It blew from the sea. The safety shoes abraded steel fronts shone bright in the industrial lights orange glow. A plastic bag with his empty lunch box fluttered up on the shoulder. The year was 1984.
They had broken up from their childhood home in Finland in financial difficulties. He had taken little brother by the hand and moved with her mother to work and money in Sweden. They had settled down in the little cottage in Österbybruk. He was the breadwinner at 23 just leaving the permanent job. Jarmo got into the car and looked out over the newly built Forsmark.He had a backlog of monthly salary, that’s all, he knew.
Borrowed 20 bucks.
The interest of cars he had from birth. Mechanics he sure knew and he sure could work around the clock if needed.
-I’m going to start a scrap yard, he said when he came home at the kitchen table.
– You mean the start of a scrap yard, Mom said.
– Nah, start one, here in Österbybruk.
Everywhere he got the same reaction.
It will not work, said the people.
The resort is too small, there is no basis, no customers and no old cars in sufficient quantity.
– What were you thinking when they asked incredulous.
– I´ll buy the old foundry and begin slaughtering cars.
– You, buy a industrial building, ho, ho how do you do it without paycheck, son?
Cold winter for Jarmo 23 in the empty industrial building.