The hands of the man

When is the last time you had a blister? When is the last time you had a blister and worked it over, continued to use that part of your hand?

Me too - a looooong time. Too long actually for a carpenter. I blame the thick calous...kahlll...thick skin on my hands. But a few, two to be exact, days of framing a garage and BLAMO I am a hurting unit. Things move fast in the framing world. Thankfully, I am again framing/nailing all by hand. The pneumatic nailer is a convenience best served for convenience needed situations. Usually, the least experienced worker is given the framing nailer and someone usually gets shot in the hand or misses an eye by "that much". No thanks.

After a winter spent doing finish work, which I love, this spring framing is a great change. Things move very fast. One hour there is a featureless slab, the next two walls and the hint of window openings, door passways. I like the comradiere (sic) too. Hard, tough, physical work out in the open and yer hands are getting beat up and the sun beats down and cars pass by and a breeze cools you in a serene moment between toe-nailing the trusses and you almost fall, again, and the beer at 3:30...ahhhhhhh. It is so cold and so crisp and life is so full for for a moment. For a day.

This is a good life. I am thankful for my family and my girlfriend who actually likes the manly man sweat and effort person who comes home.

Yeah, it was a good day. And I will revel in it, roll around in it, as long as I can. And tomorrow...I get to repeat it all again. hells yeah. Can you see the hands of the man? Can you smell the sawdust, feel the cracked dry skin? I wish you could. It is a great feeling.