You have a remarkable memory, my friend. That certainly sounds like something I would have said. What can I say - I was young and foolish, and likely trying to ingratiate myself with my in-laws - I’ve outgrown the need to impress anybody - that’s the beauty of our having achieved “senior status.”
It never ceases to amaze me how years of acquiring tools and parts and compulsively saving any random extra tools and parts in case they might one day help forestall a trip to the hardware store can be defeated by what appears the simplest of projects.
My wolmanized wool story involves such a trip, buying lumber to shore up a sagging deck. I asked an associate for assistance cutting the wood, and after he'd cut it all, he asked, "Hey, where'd you get this wood?" I pointed, and he said, "Oh, we're not supposed to cut this wood because of the chemicals." I'm not ashamed to admit that given the contours of that situation, I didn't really know what to say in response, so I thanked him, gathered up my lumber, and left.
You and your readers might be interested in https://www.storied-stuff.com/ where writers are invited to send in a picture and a short description of what that item has meant to you. Subtitled "Show and Tell for Adults," this on-line site was started at the beginning of the pandemic when reflection and connection became so important in our isolation.
"This ten-foot picnic table has withstood the test of time"
Then why do we not have a picture of the actual table? The answer, of course, is that Bill is a humble, considerate man who realizes that an actual photo of this legacy project would make DIYers everywhere feel utterly ashamed of their own projects.
Bill,
Many years ago you shared with me that there are two kinds of people that go to weekend / summer cabins and homes.
First, those that are always working ….. fixing the screen door, cleaning the gutters, going to the hardware store and so forth.
Second, those that have a cooler filled with beer and a hammock .
You said you were the second type. The table project puts you squarely in the first type.
Please clarify and include a picture.
You have a remarkable memory, my friend. That certainly sounds like something I would have said. What can I say - I was young and foolish, and likely trying to ingratiate myself with my in-laws - I’ve outgrown the need to impress anybody - that’s the beauty of our having achieved “senior status.”
Glad you both still have all your digits. It could have been a bloody fingerless mess.
Yeah, that’s why I stayed away from the circular saw, and close to the doughnuts.
It never ceases to amaze me how years of acquiring tools and parts and compulsively saving any random extra tools and parts in case they might one day help forestall a trip to the hardware store can be defeated by what appears the simplest of projects.
My wolmanized wool story involves such a trip, buying lumber to shore up a sagging deck. I asked an associate for assistance cutting the wood, and after he'd cut it all, he asked, "Hey, where'd you get this wood?" I pointed, and he said, "Oh, we're not supposed to cut this wood because of the chemicals." I'm not ashamed to admit that given the contours of that situation, I didn't really know what to say in response, so I thanked him, gathered up my lumber, and left.
You and your readers might be interested in https://www.storied-stuff.com/ where writers are invited to send in a picture and a short description of what that item has meant to you. Subtitled "Show and Tell for Adults," this on-line site was started at the beginning of the pandemic when reflection and connection became so important in our isolation.
Thanks for connecting to “Storied Stuff” - I read your piece - I think your mother did look like Ingrid Bergman.
"This ten-foot picnic table has withstood the test of time"
Then why do we not have a picture of the actual table? The answer, of course, is that Bill is a humble, considerate man who realizes that an actual photo of this legacy project would make DIYers everywhere feel utterly ashamed of their own projects.
Paul, it sounds like you could use a guy like my brother-in-law, Bob - you could stick to the doughnuts and sandwiches.