When my stint with roommates was done and I began to live on my own, I relied a lot on my Dad to show me how to do little things around my apartment and even gave him little projects to help me out. He was retired and liked having these little projects to keep him busy in his garage workbench area. Though he held a white-collar job, my Dad has always been handy around the house, as was his Dad when he was growing up. My dad could fix almost anything - he was a plumber, a carpenter, a painter and an auto mechanic on the weekends. Only if the job was really complicated or required a specialized knowledge would he call in a professional. I could never tell if it was because he didn't want to spend the money on a job he could do himself, or if he might have just enjoyed fixing things. He is a perfectionist and also very creative at figuring out how to projects. Really, he probably should have been an engineer instead of a life insurance agent.
So as little things crept up in my various apartment dwellings over the years... I'd ask to borrow a tool here and there, and eventually my Dad began to assemble my very own tool box. (I even impressed the refrigerator delivery guys when they needed certain tools to remove the door). As a result I was able to do things like build the large bookshelves in the living room and reaploster a small bench (which needs to be recovered again, come to think of it). My Dad's hearing and eyesight have deteriorated over the last few years which frustrates him because he can no longer perform these tasks which used to occupy his spare time and give him a sense of productivity and accomplishment. But, I still ask his advice when ever I undertake a small project or fix-it task.
When I acquired my hutch where I store all my collectible plates and pottery - my Dad made some shelves for the lower cupboards so that I'd have more storage space in it. The shelves looked like they were original to the hutch itself. I was showing these new shelves to my friend SR (who is also a very handy guy around the house himself) and he said, "Your dad is amazing."
Yes, he is.
3 comments:
That's really nice- I wish I had your dad.
It be really cool that you realize that yer dsd be so amazing. Many people don't know when they gots the good stuff in their lives.
Me couldn't read yer post about the Soprano's. The final season won't get over to me for at least a year! Me usually be anywhere from six weeks to six monthes behind any TV or movie discussion. kinda sucks.
Stay cool and stompy.
My dad is JUST like your dad. All my tables and desks (anything wooden, basically) in my apartment are made from him. And I'm a girl that knows how to use a drill properly :)
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