Wednesday, August 24, 2016

More Than A Hobby

Please bear with me - I'm going to brag a bit.  

I'm a great woodworker.  (Provided I have the time, the right tools, no children around, blah, blah, blah.)  

Do you know why I'm a great woodworker?  I had the best teacher.  Ever.  

When I was in junior high I spent many days of my summer vacations at Larry's shop, honing my skills and soaking in all of life's little lessons.  I have no idea why he let me work with him; I was an awkward little girl with crooked teeth, frizzy hair and too many questions.  I slowed down the most simple of tasks by checking and double checking measurements over and over.  I took away his valuable time when he could have been working on projects by himself, 100 times quicker.  

During our summers together we built quite an array of projects - saddle rack, saddle blanket rack, picture frames, a book shelf and a few other odds and ends.  I am so thankful for our time together.  He gave me an appreciation for woodworking that I otherwise wouldn't have had.  He made my high school shop classes a breeze.  To this day, when I am stuck in a meeting I find myself doodling furniture plans and dreaming in shades of red oak, cherry and walnut.  

He was a wonderful teacher for me.  And now it's time for him to go Home.  If you could, say a little prayer for my wonderful teacher, great friend and as-good-as grandpa, Larry.  

I'm not sure how you adequetly say 'thank you' when someone helps shape your life so significantly.  Until then, I'll keep doodling furniture plans...  Thank you, Larry.  God be with thee til we meet again.

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Just like mama said... If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.