My Journey in Writing, Ranting, and Woodworking

It is the little moments in life, the tiny sparks that might go unnoticed by most, that I believe one should stop and ponder. As days turn into weeks and then years those moment, if not carefully guarded, may fade into the mist. I can not, as an example, remember the name of my high school home room teacher. I remember that she was a pleasant woman. I never had her for a class, but every morning for 3 years, I sat in her room and waited for the day to begin. She was not so important to me that I mourn the loss of the memory, but it is more that this lost memory, one that should be easily recalled, is a cautionary tale.

I wonder what other precious moments have receded into the depths, so far back, piled upon by the mundane, that they are gone from sight, gone from recall.  Never again shall the joy of those memories fill a contemplative summer eve. It is strange that I am able to remember Ms. Petra, my Junior high home room teacher, but only just barely. I can name but one person from my junior high home room class, and that is Jackie. She was blonde and best friends with Karen Hunter, whom I had a terrible crush on for several years. How can all the other people be gone? Where did they go? I liked the people in my home room classes, both high school and junior high, and yet after 20 plus year of focusing on ‘at this moment’, they have vanished. I have not stopped to ponder, I have not tended to the garden of my mind.

Perhaps this is why I decided to write about my journey in woodworking? I know that I seem to forget the little details that give a memory it’s luster. Sometime I have talked about my past, to get it into the record. Teri and Tracy Holtz are there, though readers will remember them as the Krenov saw horses I created a few months ago, I will remember them as the adorable twins from 5th and 6th grade.  I wonder about John Koester, whom I haven’t seen since my freshman year at Iowa.  I remember him, but where did he go to?  Where is he now?  All I know is that in 1985, he was the funniest man I had ever met.

So what memories did I make this weekend, what rare gems, what seemingly mundane images, do I wish to put down here. It was a good weekend. I went to hang out with ma and pa Meeks. We had a nice time. Saturday morning was filled with mulch. Mom and I went to Ames and bought a giant container, which she will fill with flowers, and set near the front door. There were a lot of design ideas battered around between us. As I have said, “Gardening and Lawn work are the evil twin of woodworking.” The reason they are evil, is that they are fun, and this distracts me from woodworking. Mom and I also bought two pick-up loads of mulch, and got it strategically placed where she wanted. We accomplished a lot, and then ate pizza for dinner. A medium sausage and a medium sausage and mushroom, from Papa’s Pizza in Polk City.  That last bit probably doesn’t need to be recorded for posterity, but I was on a roll.

After we ate, I went over to see Sean, the gentleman who sold me the hand planes two weeks ago. He sold me his brass shoulder plane that he made 25 years ago. It is a gem. I mentioned it yesterday, but wanted to revisit it, because of the wonderful comment he left on yesterday’s post.

Brian I am so pleased you were able to acquire my shoulder plane. That plane represents what I believe my years of love for woodworking is about (problem solving). I believe you have what it takes to be a fine craftsman, desire, patience, and the interest of the history of the work and tools. I am proud to know you and when you use that little plane think about the old guy who made and used it. Good Luck Kid!

When I read this a few minutes ago, I realized that I needed to take the time to say thanks.    Sean was wonderful to me two weeks ago.  I very much admired the plane but couldn’t afford to buy it along with the 4 1/2 and the 5.  He suspected I might be back, so he stuck it in a drawer and didn’t show it to any of the people who came by to buy up his collection.  Thanks Sean, for the kind words and the wonderful plane.  I will treasure it always.

Today was a good day too.  Dad and I went golfing at Jester Park.  They have a nice little par 3 course, which is brilliant for starting out a new golf year.  The nice thing about a par three course, is one gets to work on their short irons.  The par is 27, and I shot a 35.   Dad shot a 42, and we both agreed that it was a good outing.  I had one shot, w hich was especially satisfying, a pitching wedge which landed 6 feet from the pin and stuck.  I made the put for birdie.  Not an important memory, but a happy one, and I want to keep it, so it made the blog.

After we golfed, Dad and I watched the Red Sox and Phillies on TV, the Sox won 8-3.  We are both Reds fans and didn’t care much about either team playing, but it was good baseball, and a good memory.  I drove home and the day has come nearly to an end.  Tomorrow I will get back to the learning of woodworking, tonight I may just think.  Perhaps take out a few of my good memories, give them a polish, and make sure they are doing well.  So for now, I am going to eat a freshly made chocolate chip cookie, one of my mom’s specialties.  Yummy.