Because
Part of the reason I got into woodworking, is because my father-in-law, who passed before I could meet, was also into woodworking. Our house is graced with many of the things he created, and I know from my wife and his works, what a wonderful man he must have been.
I had dreams, well before I had a shop, of walking through the spaces he created things with. When I first traveled to Wisconsin, I slept in the ‘dog house’, right on top where he created many things, and met monthly with friends to carve wood in the shop underneath. I didn’t know that at the time. I didn’t know how precious of a spot that was, but everywhere I look in my house now, I see the things he made, and I know how peaceful the hours spent creating them were.
On the wall in my shop, is a clock he made. It sat in our garage for years after my wife asked if I could fix it. Once I had my own shop, one of the first things I did was fix the clock and put it on the wall. The time is reads doesn’t matter, as strangely, I have a non-useful superpower, where I always seem to know what time it is. Seriously, a clock-head? That was my superpower? I wake for work every morning without an alarm clock. But that clock on the wall… every time I glance at it, I think of him.
I don’t think he could have foreseen where that clock would end up. But it was made from wood, and wood withstands. And as a woodworker, I know what love he put into that clock, and all the things he made. I try my best to do the same in everything I make. I know others may not notice the details, and I have never made anything that I think I couldn’t have done something better. Similar to my kids, I try your best to raise them the best I can, but all too soon I have to let them out into the world with all their glory and flaws.
I just made a batch of t-light holders. My daughter asked me if I could make her one. Will it be her ‘clock’? Will it remind her of my long after I have gone? I don’t know. But I can only hope that the things I make out of wood, will make someone smile, make someone wonder, and make someone ponder what they can do to make a positive impact on the future.
I had dreams, well before I had a shop, of walking through the spaces he created things with. When I first traveled to Wisconsin, I slept in the ‘dog house’, right on top where he created many things, and met monthly with friends to carve wood in the shop underneath. I didn’t know that at the time. I didn’t know how precious of a spot that was, but everywhere I look in my house now, I see the things he made, and I know how peaceful the hours spent creating them were.
On the wall in my shop, is a clock he made. It sat in our garage for years after my wife asked if I could fix it. Once I had my own shop, one of the first things I did was fix the clock and put it on the wall. The time is reads doesn’t matter, as strangely, I have a non-useful superpower, where I always seem to know what time it is. Seriously, a clock-head? That was my superpower? I wake for work every morning without an alarm clock. But that clock on the wall… every time I glance at it, I think of him.
I don’t think he could have foreseen where that clock would end up. But it was made from wood, and wood withstands. And as a woodworker, I know what love he put into that clock, and all the things he made. I try my best to do the same in everything I make. I know others may not notice the details, and I have never made anything that I think I couldn’t have done something better. Similar to my kids, I try your best to raise them the best I can, but all too soon I have to let them out into the world with all their glory and flaws.
I just made a batch of t-light holders. My daughter asked me if I could make her one. Will it be her ‘clock’? Will it remind her of my long after I have gone? I don’t know. But I can only hope that the things I make out of wood, will make someone smile, make someone wonder, and make someone ponder what they can do to make a positive impact on the future.
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