In a couple of other recent discussions, things got a little heated. Some felt the discussion to be somewhat off topic, too way off topic.
One responder, Eli, had removed his own comments to place in the off topic section. I had made a comment or two of my own and eventually, I ?threatened? young Eli with the possibility of him having to suffer thru another one of my stories. I felt the vehemence of some of the replies within the conversation warranted just this type of story. This is a long one. I do have a tendency to get a little long winded at times. Tune out at any time.
I was, as many already know, a mason contractor for many, many moons. I enjoyed what I did. I would still be doing it if my tired old body could have stood up to the strain of heavy lifting and twisting with those heavy loads for so many years. But it did not and I could not. Along the way, tho, I managed to meet and enjoy many wonderful and enjoyable people. I have many unhappy tales along the way that I rather not discuss; but the ones that provided enjoyment for me, and my family, will last forever. This particular story is about the best side of my experiences. An experience where I was able to provide something of value to a person I had never known, yet became friends because of his vision and my abilities to help him to realize his vision. (I would like to add here that Matthew has had the same sort of vision with this FOG group. He has provided the idea and the impetus and managed to sit back and enjoy the efforts of so many of us.)
I was sitting at the kitchen table, also my office desk and meeting center with the usual piles of paper work that has always been the consternation of my Dearly Beloved, when the phone rang. Nothing unusual there. The introduction from the man at the other end of the line meant nothing to me other than the possibility for another few days of work. I was a two-man operation. Usually, I was the two men. At this time, I was rolling. My nephew was my main employee of the moment. He was a good worker, spoiled with wealth and perhaps an even better sales man than yours truly. Above all, he was fun to work with and a good learner. We did have a lot of fun together on the job.
?I?m Charlie Jones (Not his real name. He and his wife are both gone now, but I will continue to respect their privacy). I understand you are an experienced stone mason.? That was a pleasant approach. I have had others say I was a ?stoned mason?. Oh well, all good things must be taken in stride.
As the conversation progressed, I realized I was talking with a man who was very emotional about his ideas. This particular idea had to do with his dream of bringing the world just a little closer. Neighbor to neighbor. He wanted to build a cairn (I call it a pyramid) here in Connecticut, and one at a location on the exact opposite side of the world from Connecticut. He asked if I knew where that would be. My immediate reply was ?Australia?. Close. He told me it was a point just off the coast of Tazmainia . Maybe Eli knows something about Tazmainia, I do not.
He told me the town, but that has long since left my feeble powers for recollection. Eventually, we arrived at a time to begin the project. I did the work for nothing. I just wanted Charlie to pay my helper and pay for cement, sand and concrete. (Was I a sucker for his enthusiasm???) The work was nothing spectacular in my own eyes, but Charlie was beside himself with excitement. As work progressed, he asked all sorts of questions. He told me of the various plaques he wanted to install if he could find somebody to cast them for him. I explained how he could do them himself and what mix he should use to make concrete castings. I think that was about the most exciting part of the whole job for him. Within a few days, he had the castings all made and I was able to install them in timely manner as work progressed.
In building the four sided pyramid, I built a four sided base with the pyramid protruding from the flat base in such a way that people could sit on the base and lean back against the pyramid. I don?t know how relaxing that could be, as the pyramid was right at one side of a fairway of the local golf club. I would say no more than a hundred yards from the tee. FORE!!!
To keep my corners lined up, I imbedded a 3/4? iron pipe vertically from the exact center of the stone base. I put a mark at the point and ran strings from the base of the actual pyramid to the mark at the top of the pipe. When Charlie saw this, he was beside himself with joy. ?do you realize your guide pipe is aiming directly at Tazmainia on the exact other side of the world?? I had not thought about that. I was just happy that I was able to cut and lay my stones so the corners were lining up perfectly. Well, as perfectly as rough field stone could be hammered and placed to appear somewhat organized.
Eventually, Charlie inquired if I would be interested in going to Tazmainia to build a duplicate, with a pipe aiming directly at the pyramid in Connecticut. Charlie had this dream for everybody in the world to understand that we are all connected. I could not argue his point, nor did I wish to pop his dream, but I had to say, ?Thanks for your faith, but no thanks.? He then tried to talk my nephew into the idea, but he was to involved with too many girl friends around here. He didn?t think he could handle a new batch way around the other side of the world. Besides, it was winter ?down under?. He liked the warm weather in New England.
Charlie is gone now. Recently, I was approached by another group who wanted to know more about the ?Cairn? and what was written on those plaques. The whole thing was built in 1976 and the printing has not stood up the ravages of time and climate. I could not help them there, but my memories of Charlie and his total immersion and enthusiasm is embedded forever in my own memories.
g'd day, y'all
Tinker
One responder, Eli, had removed his own comments to place in the off topic section. I had made a comment or two of my own and eventually, I ?threatened? young Eli with the possibility of him having to suffer thru another one of my stories. I felt the vehemence of some of the replies within the conversation warranted just this type of story. This is a long one. I do have a tendency to get a little long winded at times. Tune out at any time.
I was, as many already know, a mason contractor for many, many moons. I enjoyed what I did. I would still be doing it if my tired old body could have stood up to the strain of heavy lifting and twisting with those heavy loads for so many years. But it did not and I could not. Along the way, tho, I managed to meet and enjoy many wonderful and enjoyable people. I have many unhappy tales along the way that I rather not discuss; but the ones that provided enjoyment for me, and my family, will last forever. This particular story is about the best side of my experiences. An experience where I was able to provide something of value to a person I had never known, yet became friends because of his vision and my abilities to help him to realize his vision. (I would like to add here that Matthew has had the same sort of vision with this FOG group. He has provided the idea and the impetus and managed to sit back and enjoy the efforts of so many of us.)
I was sitting at the kitchen table, also my office desk and meeting center with the usual piles of paper work that has always been the consternation of my Dearly Beloved, when the phone rang. Nothing unusual there. The introduction from the man at the other end of the line meant nothing to me other than the possibility for another few days of work. I was a two-man operation. Usually, I was the two men. At this time, I was rolling. My nephew was my main employee of the moment. He was a good worker, spoiled with wealth and perhaps an even better sales man than yours truly. Above all, he was fun to work with and a good learner. We did have a lot of fun together on the job.
?I?m Charlie Jones (Not his real name. He and his wife are both gone now, but I will continue to respect their privacy). I understand you are an experienced stone mason.? That was a pleasant approach. I have had others say I was a ?stoned mason?. Oh well, all good things must be taken in stride.
As the conversation progressed, I realized I was talking with a man who was very emotional about his ideas. This particular idea had to do with his dream of bringing the world just a little closer. Neighbor to neighbor. He wanted to build a cairn (I call it a pyramid) here in Connecticut, and one at a location on the exact opposite side of the world from Connecticut. He asked if I knew where that would be. My immediate reply was ?Australia?. Close. He told me it was a point just off the coast of Tazmainia . Maybe Eli knows something about Tazmainia, I do not.
He told me the town, but that has long since left my feeble powers for recollection. Eventually, we arrived at a time to begin the project. I did the work for nothing. I just wanted Charlie to pay my helper and pay for cement, sand and concrete. (Was I a sucker for his enthusiasm???) The work was nothing spectacular in my own eyes, but Charlie was beside himself with excitement. As work progressed, he asked all sorts of questions. He told me of the various plaques he wanted to install if he could find somebody to cast them for him. I explained how he could do them himself and what mix he should use to make concrete castings. I think that was about the most exciting part of the whole job for him. Within a few days, he had the castings all made and I was able to install them in timely manner as work progressed.
In building the four sided pyramid, I built a four sided base with the pyramid protruding from the flat base in such a way that people could sit on the base and lean back against the pyramid. I don?t know how relaxing that could be, as the pyramid was right at one side of a fairway of the local golf club. I would say no more than a hundred yards from the tee. FORE!!!
To keep my corners lined up, I imbedded a 3/4? iron pipe vertically from the exact center of the stone base. I put a mark at the point and ran strings from the base of the actual pyramid to the mark at the top of the pipe. When Charlie saw this, he was beside himself with joy. ?do you realize your guide pipe is aiming directly at Tazmainia on the exact other side of the world?? I had not thought about that. I was just happy that I was able to cut and lay my stones so the corners were lining up perfectly. Well, as perfectly as rough field stone could be hammered and placed to appear somewhat organized.
Eventually, Charlie inquired if I would be interested in going to Tazmainia to build a duplicate, with a pipe aiming directly at the pyramid in Connecticut. Charlie had this dream for everybody in the world to understand that we are all connected. I could not argue his point, nor did I wish to pop his dream, but I had to say, ?Thanks for your faith, but no thanks.? He then tried to talk my nephew into the idea, but he was to involved with too many girl friends around here. He didn?t think he could handle a new batch way around the other side of the world. Besides, it was winter ?down under?. He liked the warm weather in New England.
Charlie is gone now. Recently, I was approached by another group who wanted to know more about the ?Cairn? and what was written on those plaques. The whole thing was built in 1976 and the printing has not stood up the ravages of time and climate. I could not help them there, but my memories of Charlie and his total immersion and enthusiasm is embedded forever in my own memories.
g'd day, y'all
Tinker
