It’s always a nice escape to read these posts. I only read or listen when I have a moment to really focus - they are not something to have going on the background. This one wonderfully captures the sacredness of houses, the lives that “haunt” these spaces in various ways. I experience the same thing. And I couldn’t help but laugh at the humor in driving across town at 2AM because you know you won’t sleep until you know whether you really forgot to do something important. I thought I was the only one who has done that :-)
Beautifully written. I have laid maybe 300 miles of underground water supply pipe on farms over Southern UK, never to be seen once buried; but for me this pipe will forever be the pipe that Nick laid, my legacy for future generations. Replacing asbestos pipe laid by Italian prisoners of war I think of their life, wonder if they were happy to be captured, if they were missing their village in Italy, did they go home or stay in the UK. Perhaps in a hundred years someone will think of me and my life when they dig up one of my water supply pipes.
Yeah, it’s so funny how you think of those things you’re describing. I guess there’s a connection between working in the material world and the passing of time, whether it is in the future or in the past. Thanks for writing and reading!
Maybe it’s an article of faith, but I think the world still revolves first around the stuff and people in it who come in hands-on contact. At a posh wedding reception this summer most everyone was impressed by the venue. One nice touch were some colorful, recently planted annuals around a young tree on the front lawn. It was said the mother of the bride had put them there. No one meant she’d actually planted them, of course. But I doubt she came back to dig them up and repossess them the next day either.
Beautifully written story that offers insight into a carpenter’s relationship with the house they are building. Thank you. Sent this to our contractor who did a deep renovation of our 100 year old home 18 years ago.
This is where you find the line between what I generally do (fix things, and maintain them, but not for living in), and what you did. Both manifestations of the most physical of occupations, but entirely different.
Through all the construction jargon, and remeberances you capture the working man with a certain poetry. I know you as if you were on my crew today.
For you it was the broom to relax a bit to get rid of some stress. For me, it's a little thing. I sharpen my pencil. Some on the crew look at me strange when I suddenly stop, pull out my knife, and sharpen my red pencil.
I'm a lucky one today. We are working near Palisades and the destruction of the big fire. National Guardsmen are still present. It's clear and beautiful and I'm running my dream crew of guys who I know well and know me well. Easy going. This was a good one. Well, back to work. Take care.
My Sunday morning treat. Thank you for writing and sharing
It’s always a nice escape to read these posts. I only read or listen when I have a moment to really focus - they are not something to have going on the background. This one wonderfully captures the sacredness of houses, the lives that “haunt” these spaces in various ways. I experience the same thing. And I couldn’t help but laugh at the humor in driving across town at 2AM because you know you won’t sleep until you know whether you really forgot to do something important. I thought I was the only one who has done that :-)
Thank you! My boss always said he didn’t have to worry because he knew I would do it for him.
Beautifully written. I have laid maybe 300 miles of underground water supply pipe on farms over Southern UK, never to be seen once buried; but for me this pipe will forever be the pipe that Nick laid, my legacy for future generations. Replacing asbestos pipe laid by Italian prisoners of war I think of their life, wonder if they were happy to be captured, if they were missing their village in Italy, did they go home or stay in the UK. Perhaps in a hundred years someone will think of me and my life when they dig up one of my water supply pipes.
Yeah, it’s so funny how you think of those things you’re describing. I guess there’s a connection between working in the material world and the passing of time, whether it is in the future or in the past. Thanks for writing and reading!
Maybe it’s an article of faith, but I think the world still revolves first around the stuff and people in it who come in hands-on contact. At a posh wedding reception this summer most everyone was impressed by the venue. One nice touch were some colorful, recently planted annuals around a young tree on the front lawn. It was said the mother of the bride had put them there. No one meant she’d actually planted them, of course. But I doubt she came back to dig them up and repossess them the next day either.
I think you’re right. Thank you for reading!
Beautifully written story that offers insight into a carpenter’s relationship with the house they are building. Thank you. Sent this to our contractor who did a deep renovation of our 100 year old home 18 years ago.
Thank you, Katie!
This is where you find the line between what I generally do (fix things, and maintain them, but not for living in), and what you did. Both manifestations of the most physical of occupations, but entirely different.
Thank you, Tony!
Through all the construction jargon, and remeberances you capture the working man with a certain poetry. I know you as if you were on my crew today.
For you it was the broom to relax a bit to get rid of some stress. For me, it's a little thing. I sharpen my pencil. Some on the crew look at me strange when I suddenly stop, pull out my knife, and sharpen my red pencil.
I'm a lucky one today. We are working near Palisades and the destruction of the big fire. National Guardsmen are still present. It's clear and beautiful and I'm running my dream crew of guys who I know well and know me well. Easy going. This was a good one. Well, back to work. Take care.
Thank you, David. Yeah, I know that about pencil-sharpening, and everybody has a different method. Enjoy the day!
Excellent piece, I enjoy your retrospective thoughts on building and the trades. Thank you.
Thank you for reading!