As the daughter of a master electrician who could ‘turn his hand’ to almost anything, I’ve taken skilled tradesmen for granted.
When Dad came into our house with his tools, and John met him at the door in work clothes, I knew that amazing things were about to happen. It was as easy as that. Whether it was installing a new water line, screening around the front porch, or paneling on the stairway — I merely went about my life, and at the end of the day, the job was done to perfection.
When the time came to replace the vinyl flooring in our condo foyer recently, I assumed it was a ‘simple job.’ I would merely close my office door and emerge in a couple of hours to a new floor.
When Dennis arrived, he deposited a pile of wooden boards in the hallway, then surveyed the foyer, an area of approximately 120 sq. feet.
I asked how long the job would take. He raised his eyebrows, smiled patiently, and called my attention to the irregular shape of the area. We counted fourteen different inside and outside angles, five doorways, and a five foot opening into the living room. Then he picked up a board and asked me how I wanted them placed.
“This way? Or this way? Or this way…?”
It was something I hadn’t considered; decision-making isn’t exactly my strong suit. So Dennis suggested looking at some of my neighbors’ floors — which I did while he carried in more tools.
Over the next three hours, this craftsman in knee pads used an array of tools that would have impressed Tim-The-Tool-Man-Taylor–including some I didn’t recognize.
I looked up from my computer from time to time to see him prying shoe molding, cutting door jams, hammering small nails…
The sound of the electric saw in the hallway brought back happy memories and was somehow reassuring. As Dennis measured angles and jotted figures, I was struck by the variety of skills necessary for laying a ‘simple’ floor. Not only was this man a proficient tool operator doing a physically-demanding job, he was a mathematics wizard relying on problem-solving skills. In the end, he was an artist. I had taken for granted the skill that had gone into our endless
home improvements through the years.
We love our new foyer floor. Remembering that pile of boards in the morning, it’s nothing short of amazing — a tribute to a skilled tradesman for sure.
9 Comments
I love Dirty Jobs and I thank Mike for sknepiag for us so-called Muckers and the need for more vocational training! I work as a baker in a cafeteria. It’s a fast, exacting, VERY MESSY and physical one-man job that takes weeks to learn and you have to do it right EVERY TIME. But I make over full time $12.50/hr + health plan, and it’s steady work. However, the counter girl up front who makes minimum plus tips. She got her bachelor’s degree in IT tech -3 YEARS AGO! Go figure.
As a tradesman myself, I gotta say Peggy, it’s good to be appreciated! Whether it’s a floor guy or us HVAC guys, we’re always working hard, sometimes to little appreciation. It’s nice to read yours!
The story brings me to the realization that I have lived my entire life with “craftsmen” aka…dad,uncle,papa,brothers,cousins and a variety of neighbors & friends mixed in. I have NEVER had to call anyone that I didn’t know to install or fix a thing. Dad was always there to take care of it. Job done. Nice work. Hug & Kiss thanks pops…now the sons have taken over those duties, their calling in life autos, tradesmen…the continuation lives on. God Bless our families. My cousin is a master electrician as was his dad…Look like I will do the many talents I picked up from the ladies in my family. The men do love to eat and be cared for…and count my blessings. Thanks Peggy Rowe…you made me smile and appreciate all the great things I have in my life. -Michele
Mrs. Rowe this has to be my favorite blog so far of yours. I do also love your blogs with your family reminiscing and stories but this blog really speaks to mrW and to my own family. My story was my father & father-in-law were mechanics so for years I appreciated and took ‘our’ skilled tradesman’s craft for granted.
Thank you so much for your blogs, especially this tribute – this blog is a gem for sure.
The floors look very nice and (as Maureen suggested) it was a good thing that Mr. Rowe was right there ‘at the ready’ just in case Dennis ran into a snag. Actually, the picture reminds me of an inside family joke we have of what my dad used to say if he came across one of us kids doing a project. He would say, “You’re doing a great job there…yep…uh huh…yeah, here, let me see if I can just show you something real quick…”
He was usually right, and we learned a lot, but what I learned most is that when you’re a ‘do-er,’ it’s nearly impossible to be a spectator, so I’m going to applaud Mr. Rowe—my suspicion is that he’s doing a really good job of holding back there!
Wow, the finished job looks great. And that is a difficult area. I would have been watching surreptitiously the entire time instead of paying attention to my computer work.
Thanks Mrs. Rowe for all the stories you put up.
So often these skilled tradesman are taken for granted. Until you witness their talents in action, the are amazing. I see Dennis had a supervisor on hand. So typical of a man..keeping the other in check.
Thanks for the story as always
Maureen
Dear Mrs. Rowe, First let me say how much I appreciate reading your blog. I agree, there is talent and an art form to accompany any skill. Whether you are a homemaker or a brick layer, a lighthouse keeper or a crab fisherman. Each one of us is an essential part inside the woven fabric of life. Thank you for reminding me. You have a way of doing that. Sincerely yours, Shannon.
This is something I think we all take for granted. And it’s nice to be reminded every once in awhile the skill and intelligence it takes to be a master craftsman. Your foyer looks beautiful.