I have, of late, grown to truly appreciate the produce of my hands. I was raised to value the work of others, particularly those who make the things that constitute the built environment of our civilization, but I was encouraged toward education: “using my brain instead of my back.” The field I chose is limited in employment opportunities, so I have done many other things while I made my bones; physical labor among them. Those were always a means ($) to an end (my ‘real’ career), and I didn’t recognize the true value of my work.
My hobbies have always been creation with my hands and time has come that I find myself enamored of the results of what I previously thought of as chores. I look at the 10 cords of wood stacked in the back yard and feel a satisfaction that thinking about things does not engender.
Ten cords is a lot of firewood! Naturally I agree with you, but for me it was a kind of discovery in my late twenties that never fails to surprise me even now. Thanks for reading!
I had just listened to Chopin’s “Nocturne in C-sharp minor” when I listened to your latest piece. I thought - this is the Nocturne in words. Very beautiful. The themes you invoked reminded me wonderfully of so many of the same in my life. Thank you.
Thank you, Miles! I’m flattered. To a large degree, I want to write about things in such a way that even if the reader hasn’t had the experience themselves, they feel as if they might have. The writers that I love are right there with you in the story, even if it’s third person omniscient. Trollope is so good at this. I recognize all the counter-arguments, but for me personally, I think the impulse to read is always partly a cure for loneliness, and good writing can be likened to good companionship. Thanks so much for your support!
I liked everything about this, the married couple and the way they have their private rituals, and the way a carpenter learns to put angularity into his hammer stroke to drive the nail with a single blow without bending it -- two things invisible to the outside world that hold the world together.
Thank you so much! I am always leery of technical descriptions of construction work and try to avoid them, but this one I worked hard to bring to life. Thank you so much for reading!
Another beautiful essay. And as the father of a first born daughter, I can really relate.
If you will forgive me for being a grammar scold, you say “For my wife and I” when it should be “for my wife and me.” “Me” is the object of the preposition “for” and hence belongs in the objective rather than the subjective case. This is a common error because we were all taught to be careful to say “my friend and I went to the store” instead of “my friend and me went”. This is correct because “my friend and me” is the subject of the sentence, not the object.
None of this takes away from the quality of your essay, but I sense you are a man who cares about language and about precision, so I offer this up for your consideration, and I hope you’ll forgive my being so pedantic.
Thank you very much for reading and for the correction! Everything’s by ear and sometimes I miss it, not to mention that has always been a troublesome distinction for me. Thanks again!
Nice work Man. Reminds me of teaching kids and pointing out to them that their hands are as important to their humanity as anything else they’ve got. Always saw some lights go on for that one. Now if we can just get more people to remember that. You’re holding your end of that effort up with style. Thanks again.
I love your description of hands, working hands, then-- Adam's, in Michelangelo's. The theme of Hands is remarkable. We can say so much, looking at the hands. You expressed it so vividly, especially, proud, working hands. I worked physically twice in my life, but I was following a false idea. I understand the praudness of your Working Man, when physical work reaches the level of artistry.
Lovely. I do a "you're so tall" thing with my husband when we hug. Later well hug with me on a stair and he'll say "you're so tall" and we grin everytime. Never gets old.
Thank you for reading—and noticing! There is not enough writing that is heartwarming in the world, and when I see an opportunity to be heartwarming as well as true—man, I go for it!
Thank you for this expression of what we must all feel at times but can't put into words. I can relate. My dad was not a "working man" as we are but his father lost his hand in the coal mines of Pennsylvania and his grandfather died in the mine. I was late to recognizing the dignity of what we do. Take care.
So much I could respond with here, but I will just say thank you.
Beautiful!
I have, of late, grown to truly appreciate the produce of my hands. I was raised to value the work of others, particularly those who make the things that constitute the built environment of our civilization, but I was encouraged toward education: “using my brain instead of my back.” The field I chose is limited in employment opportunities, so I have done many other things while I made my bones; physical labor among them. Those were always a means ($) to an end (my ‘real’ career), and I didn’t recognize the true value of my work.
My hobbies have always been creation with my hands and time has come that I find myself enamored of the results of what I previously thought of as chores. I look at the 10 cords of wood stacked in the back yard and feel a satisfaction that thinking about things does not engender.
I made that.
Ten cords is a lot of firewood! Naturally I agree with you, but for me it was a kind of discovery in my late twenties that never fails to surprise me even now. Thanks for reading!
I had just listened to Chopin’s “Nocturne in C-sharp minor” when I listened to your latest piece. I thought - this is the Nocturne in words. Very beautiful. The themes you invoked reminded me wonderfully of so many of the same in my life. Thank you.
Thank you, Miles! I’m flattered. To a large degree, I want to write about things in such a way that even if the reader hasn’t had the experience themselves, they feel as if they might have. The writers that I love are right there with you in the story, even if it’s third person omniscient. Trollope is so good at this. I recognize all the counter-arguments, but for me personally, I think the impulse to read is always partly a cure for loneliness, and good writing can be likened to good companionship. Thanks so much for your support!
I couldn’t agree more and you’re welcome!
Great article very enjoyable to read. “Happy wife, happy life”
Thanks very much for reading!
I liked everything about this, the married couple and the way they have their private rituals, and the way a carpenter learns to put angularity into his hammer stroke to drive the nail with a single blow without bending it -- two things invisible to the outside world that hold the world together.
Yes! Thank you so much for the observation!
You write beautifully! Never thought I could become immersed in a story about driving a nail but your descriptions are wonderful!
Thank you so much! I am always leery of technical descriptions of construction work and try to avoid them, but this one I worked hard to bring to life. Thank you so much for reading!
Well, you did a wonderful job!
Another beautiful essay. And as the father of a first born daughter, I can really relate.
If you will forgive me for being a grammar scold, you say “For my wife and I” when it should be “for my wife and me.” “Me” is the object of the preposition “for” and hence belongs in the objective rather than the subjective case. This is a common error because we were all taught to be careful to say “my friend and I went to the store” instead of “my friend and me went”. This is correct because “my friend and me” is the subject of the sentence, not the object.
None of this takes away from the quality of your essay, but I sense you are a man who cares about language and about precision, so I offer this up for your consideration, and I hope you’ll forgive my being so pedantic.
Thank you very much for reading and for the correction! Everything’s by ear and sometimes I miss it, not to mention that has always been a troublesome distinction for me. Thanks again!
Nice work Man. Reminds me of teaching kids and pointing out to them that their hands are as important to their humanity as anything else they’ve got. Always saw some lights go on for that one. Now if we can just get more people to remember that. You’re holding your end of that effort up with style. Thanks again.
Thank you for reading, Tim!
I love your description of hands, working hands, then-- Adam's, in Michelangelo's. The theme of Hands is remarkable. We can say so much, looking at the hands. You expressed it so vividly, especially, proud, working hands. I worked physically twice in my life, but I was following a false idea. I understand the praudness of your Working Man, when physical work reaches the level of artistry.
Thank you so much for reading!
This is what Substack was designed for. This essay is its own ceiling fresco masterpiece.
Very flattered. Thank you so much for reading!
Love this. Thank you
Thank you so much, Katie!
I enjoyed each section but thought wow about the technique of driving a hammer. The part about holding your daughter. That was beautiful.
Thank you Katie! I try to avoid technical descriptions of construction work but this one I indulged. Thank you so very much for reading!
But you wrote the technical stuff so well it was fascinating to read
Well Katie, I do definitely go over and over it, knowing it’s a place where I could lose a reader. Thank you!
Lovely. I do a "you're so tall" thing with my husband when we hug. Later well hug with me on a stair and he'll say "you're so tall" and we grin everytime. Never gets old.
“Never gets old”—I absolutely believe it. Thank you so much for reading!
And it is honestly appreciated. Great work.
Marvelous. Just marvelous. And heartwarming.
Thank you for reading—and noticing! There is not enough writing that is heartwarming in the world, and when I see an opportunity to be heartwarming as well as true—man, I go for it!
Thank you for this expression of what we must all feel at times but can't put into words. I can relate. My dad was not a "working man" as we are but his father lost his hand in the coal mines of Pennsylvania and his grandfather died in the mine. I was late to recognizing the dignity of what we do. Take care.