Fun Work

I have never had a job I disliked, but I have had jobs I enjoyed more than others.  Over the years I have tried many trades and was able to work with them all, but if not careful one can become "A Jack of all trades, but master of none." 

Of all the jobs I have had in my 77 yrs of life, General Contracting of residential homes was my 'dream job'.  Building a house was just a big fun puzzle to put together. I also have to give my sweetie credit for pushing me the way I wanted to go.

I had built one house, a small two bedroom house. No A/C because I did not know anything about installing air conditioning, but back then folks used window units..

(My sisters and their hubbies came to see the first house, that is young Shirl in foreground and Kat & hubby Dick. Jim took the pic.)

Sherry hates debts, we had bought a house for $21k with payments of $203 a month. She despised house payments.  On one of our walks she asked, "Honey, can you build us a house and get us out of debt?"

MY answer was quick, "I believe I can. No, I am sure I can."

"Then let's find a lot and do it."

We did just that. We found a beautiful sloping wooded lot.  WE cut trees, dug stumps actually loaded 500 lb stumps on our pickup using levers, ‘come-alongs’ and brute strength and took them to the dump one at a time.  I’m smiling because she even helped me roof that one. I think we were in our forties. 

(We mixed every bag of mortar, laid every brick and drove every nail in this house)

But that was the start of our construction business.  I hated to quit in the evenings. I could not wait to get back to the house I was building.  I did become what I considered a master home builder. My policy, that I tried to pass to my son, was: I will never build a house I would not live in.

But that experience is why I can do this kind of work. Besides, I love this little house. It does need two baths, and I might just boot-leg one in.

Tomorrow we head to The Villages and Sherry's eye checkup.  Then down by Marks and on to St. Pete to meet with Grandson Josh and wife Megan. Looking forward to it.

Nite Shipslogt.

PS: I know part of this is a repeat, 'I can still work pretty well, but my memory don't do too good.'

This is a 1905 Mason Car. I can't say that with out thinking 'Mason Jar'.