bitter-sweet

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
P

paintspill

Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2011
Messages
891
Location
toronto, ontario, canada.
this thread is titled casual conversation, so that is what i plan to do.

i have a customer that is in the health care industry, she does in home care for the elderly, she is one of my favorite customers and she only likes to deal with me and we always have a great time when she comes in, on one occasion she saw my pen and that got us talking, she had a turned key chain that a patient of hers made for her. he was a pen turner also. well she called me the other day and asked if i would be interested in some wood. it turns out this elderly gentleman can't turn anymore due to his disabilities. she went on to say that he gave away his lathe and was planning to sell all his supplies and that she would bring me some boxes of wood, but she wanted this guy to meet me so he knew where it was going and that it was going to be put to good use. well i met him on wednesday, he looked like your typical, frail old man, that changed when we started to talk, we showed each other out carry pens, and i told him about my recent "fame" on the iap feature photo and write up on the wood whisperer. and man, this guy just lit up, it was one of those moments that i think i will remember for ever.

so the bitter sweet is i may gain some new stuff, but one mans hobby has ended.

i hope you don't mind my sharing but i know this is the only place that will understand.
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
It's really cool when you meet someone that is very old that has the same hobby. They have usually been doing it for a lot longer than you. You can sit and just listen to them recite their fondest of memories! It actually means allot to them!
 
That's a touching story Marc. I'm like Mike, I hope you stay in touch with him. He might not be able to turn anymore but I bet he'd still like to talk shop with another turner.
 
I am also a RN Case Manager and my patients are primarily the elderly. It is wonderful to sit and talk with my patients and hear stories from a time that I can only imagine. One of my patients was a 85 year old woman, who had been a woodworker for a living and boy she had tales to tell.
I also hope that you continue to visit this person. You will probably learn a lot about turning, but also about history, life and do a good turn at the same time. Thank you for taking the time to visit with this person.
 
Marc,
My father was a woodworker also and his greatest joy at the end was having a piece of wood in his hand so I used to make small light things for him to finish.
You should consider making this gentleman an unfinished pen and let him apply the finish
he will have a hand in some sort of penmaking activity and I'm sure it will bring a smile to both of you.
Mark
 
What a great story. Some of my most enjoyable turning was all about the background. The first time was my wifes grandparents. Every year there would be a reunoin at "The Farm" and all the kids that grew up there would walk through the orchard. Twenty plus years later the grandparents passed and the land was sold because it was too far for anyone to care for. I was able to talk to the new owners and they allowed me to cut some pear,apple, and apricot. I made a pen for each of the kids,aunts and uncles, that grew up there. The other was a church friends husband that passed away. He turned bowles and plates. I helped her clean out the garage and she gave me all the wood. He had some plate blanks glued up so I took a picture of a plate blank cut diagonally for pens. I turned three one for the widow and one for each daughter. When I finished the pens I layed them in the missing places in the plate blank and took another picture. I gave the girls the pens and the pictures and their reaction was worth more than any amount of money.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom