Some time ago Scott
Russell Sanders wrote a
beautiful essay entitled
``The Inheritance of Tools.’’
In it he tells of how his father
taught him carpentry
and the proper use and care
of tools. It is an essay filled
with lovely and poignant
moments. What I remember
most often is his father’s
advice with respect to building
anything.
It is to make sure at every
step along the way that
things are straight, plumb,
and true.
It is advice well taken,
whether it refers to making
a concrete object or patrolling
one’s character.
Earlier today I put the
finishing touches to a toy
chest for my six-month old
grandson Grant.
It is my present to him
on the occasion of his first
Christmas. Of course, the
greatest gift of all to us was
his coming into the world to
be a part of our family. A
close friend with far more
cabinetmaking skills than I
can claim to have helped
me get the project started.
As I have worked on it sporadically
for the past several
weeks, Sanders’s father’s
advice kept me on my
toes.
I have learned a lot
about woodworking and
have found it so rewarding
an activity that I have
signed up for a course offered
by a local craftsman.
It is true that we learn from
our mistakes.
I have made my fair
share and while there are
some imperfections here
and there, the end product
is really something to be
proud of.
Next time around I will
do a few things differently.
And while I know that each
project offers up its own peculiar
difficulties, the beauty
of such endeavors is that
the immunities one builds
up to earlier blunders enable
one to more adeptly
tackle future challenges.
My son loves to chide me
about what he sometimes
refers to as my "cob-job’’
carpentry skills.
At times he has had a
point, but I think this time
around he will be pleasantly
delighted by the craftsmanship
it took to make
this present for his son.
The friend who gave so
generously of his time and
knowledge approached
things as I know Sanders’s
father world have.
We very assiduously
made double and triple sure
that our cuts and fits were
straight and true. As we
worked I thought about the
moral and aesthetical aspects
of what we were up
to.
I also became more
aware than I ever have
been of the need to be patient
— as well as forgiving.
Forgiving because no matter
how diligent one is at
times things will just not
turn out right.
Patience is absolutely
necessary because to do
anything well takes time,
sometimes a very long time.
If I have been guilty of inferior
work at times it is because
I have not been willing
to take my time.
This project has reinforced
for me in innumerable
ways the value of patience.
Sometimes it is
necessary to be reminded of
what one already knows
but has been unwilling to
accept.
I look forward to seeing
the look on my son’s face
when we deliver the chest
next week.
I also look forward to my
grandson’s being old enough
to use and appreciate his
grandfather’s gift. Most of
all I look forward to being
part of his life — one that is
straight, plumb, and true.
Columns
Hawthorn Hill: Keeping things straight, plumb and true
- Columns
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Mother's visit was a benchmark for this year
Last week, my mother made the 25-hour plane trip out to Thailand to visit her son, me, after nine months of having only choppy Skype sessions and scattered emails to give her an idea of what I look and act like since having left home last August.
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around the Globe: World traveler calls Euro-Tour experience of a lifetime
While I've had a great time throughout my entire exchange, I can say hands down that the month of April brought me the best memories of my exchange if not some of the best of my entire life. What kind of wonder would bring me to say this? Simple. Euro-Tour.
Continued ... -
Maryland port attacked
Havre de Grace, May 3. "This morning, a little after the break of day, a British armed force, under cover of armed vessels which anchored in front of this town ... landed below a small breast work which had been roughly thrown up, and in which were one 9 and two 4 pounders, manned by 50 militia.
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Memoir reflects on 'roller-coaster life and career'
Apparently, the third time wasn't the charm. The way Reynolds described him, the third husband was worse than the first two combined and that's saying a lot. Eddie Fisher literally walked away from Reynolds and their two infant children to chase a sex goddess. At least he got his just desserts when Elizabeth Taylor tossed him aside for Richard Burton.
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Imagine what might have been ...
A while back we got a telephone call from a reader of this column wanting to know why we had not written a column in support of Otsego Manor continuing to be owned and operated by Otsego County. And even though we have followed the debate over this issue in the newspaper, we readily admitted we did not feel we knew enough about the situation to take a stand.
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Herpes virus brings harness racing to a halt
I've been going to harness horse race tracks my entire life. My family has been in the business for years.
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Time, if not traffic, moves on ...
It is with sadness we note the passing of two people who we have known since moving to Cooperstown in 1982.
Continued ... -
Canadian capital captured
Dear Sir, I have just returned from Fort Niagara, where I saw a Captain of the United States' navy. He is just from little York, the capital of Upper Canada, and gives the following account, which is confirmed in official dispatches from Gen. Dearborn to Gen. Lewis ...
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Local Voices From Around The Globe: Exchange is like a life in a year
All exchange students realize the credibility of this statement. Like all lives no exchange is the same, all are incredible unique exchanges. The metaphor of life, from baby to old age, extends to every part of the exchange.
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Movie depicting legendary Jackie Robinson does not disappoint
Going to the movies is not something I do often. I can count the number of times I have gone on my fingers, unless you include trips to the drive-in. And even so, it took me years before I made it to one of those -- going for the first time two summers ago.
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'Dubious' about weather, Hawkeyes 'suitable' nickname
Unfortunately, it seems to us that this spring has, thus far, been anything but spring like. In fact, we are still more than happy to stay bundled up in our polar fleece.
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'Who's on Worst?' reveals the ugly in baseball
The Baseball Hall of Fame celebrates the greatest players, managers and owners from our national pastime. Any of us who have watched Major League baseball have inevitably seen some of these immortals practicing their craft. But we have also likely witnessed a sample of their opposite brethren, players who shouldn't have been in the Major Leagues. Has there ever been a definitive source that "celebrates" the non-accomplishments of the worst that Major League baseball has to offer?
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Swallow talk and bluebird vigilance
I assume the swallows have returned to Capistrano. They have returned to Hawthorn Hill as well.
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Life in Hungry has taken a turn for the better
I can truthfully say spring has finally arrived in Hungary. It's almost time to wear shorts and sandals, for summer will be just around the corner. This brings me great happiness and great sadness, my adventure is coming to a close. Really what a time it was, I don't think I can compare it to anything else.
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The importance of speaking up ...
Over the years we have come to understand that, in writing a weekly column, it is not possible to always please everyone. And such was the case with our column that ran at the end of March in which we wrote about our experience as in inpatient following a total hip replacement.
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Public schools created
The Common School Act of 1812 marked the start of New York's public school system. Much of the credit for this was due to the radical Otsego County politician Jedediah Peck (1747-1821). To quote the NY Education Department:
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Book takes readers on path for equal rights
One of the most troubling aspects of our history is race relations. It takes a long time to achieve true equality in a society when the heritage of one ethnic group is slavery and Jim Crow laws. Even today African Americans are more likely to be stereotyped as athletes than doctors, lawyers or entrepreneurs. The path to a "color-blind" nation is still a work in progress.
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Experiencing India at every new turn
Come, sit down. Hold this and, wait ... ah, there you go. Obeying these commands, I found myself seated on the pavement, wearing a turban and attempting to make sounds out of a recorder-like instrument for the black cobras in the baskets not two feet away from me.
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Will I be American or will I be Thai today?
When would someone have the ability to present themselves as a native of a country of their own choosing? When they’ve lived eight months as an exchange student, of course!
Continued ... - Second host family makes Hungary feel like home
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Mother's visit was a benchmark for this year
