I just had an existential moment that I had to write down and share if, by chance, anyone reads it. I was out in the garage trying to figure out how I want to build some 'rustic' wood toys for my grandkids. I found a small piece of wood I thought I could use for the tires and put it on the work bench to drill out the circles. It took a while to drill out the first wheel, "man, this is hard wood." When I looked closer I realized it was a piece of wood I had saved from Andy's parents sofa. So far, no real big deal I suppose but suddenly I flashed back to the first time I ever saw that furniture in the den of Jim and Bonnie Arnold in 1968. It wasn't new then but I just thought of how long this wood has paralelled my life . I remember one time Bonnie gave me 'a look' when I put a glass down on the end table with out a coaster or anything. I got the message real quick! Or Papa Jim, asleep in his chair, snoring away with all kinds of noise, people and activity going on around him. It only took a moment or two, going in rewind , to review several such snapshots: I was the only Colts fan , watching the Super Bowl with a whole household of Joe Namath fans.....(especially Andy's mom., asking my future father in law for permission to marry Andy (I was sitting on the sofa but really squirming!.......Jim was gracious and said yes) Enough. I just flashed across the years and stopped briefly , almost in a blur . The really neat part was the brief visual of one of the gand kids picking up this little toy and banging it on the loudest thing available (as Ella is fond of doing )or worse yet pouring a whole cup of water on it or pushing it through the mud in the back yard (a noble thought for a Jeep) "Sorry Jim and Bonnie!"
I saw the look on Bonnie's face but this time, for a great grand child, it turned into a smile.
I just put this down to remember it; I'll spend more time latter......must get back to the Jeep'
Tom
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4 comments:
dad, this was so cool!!!! i love all of those images-- and i can just see that furniture and where you're talking about all of those things happening. i love you dad. those toys are and are going to be awesome!!!
hey Sam,
Thanks...........right now they are indeed, RUSTIC but maybe I'll get them improved a little. was neat to think about the wood transcending all of those separate events............dad
hey, i was just looking at some pictures from when i was just born and there are pictures of me in my baby seat at one month sitting on that couch! it made me think of what you wrote!! :) mom's in that black robe with the silver trim sitting in the arm chair beside the couch! and now they are immortalized in your work!! :)
That's neat Sam..........I've been making things with the wood from the end table, sofa, coffee table, all of it. I think some of the podium we made for your classroom had that wood in it...along with various picture frames, etc.
love / Dad
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