“You know Grandpas are amazing! They can do anything!”

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Today’s Blog Post

“You know Grandpas are amazing! They can do anything!”
Taking time to pour something into a young life is the most important thing a man can ever do!

I have known and worked with that secret for many years. I have encouraged men to do just that with their kids and grandkids. And there are stages that you can do that kind of thing and when it is also more important than any other time to make sure that you do it!

Yesterday and Today
Yesterday was a magic moment for me. Again I was able to capture the moment and seize the day… my own “Carpe Diem”!!!!

It is the holiday season again. The kids are out of school and more available to us. This weekend is especially fun in that 3 grandsons of the 4 that live in Whitby have joined us in Peterborough – along with their 2 cousins that live here.

One grandson is in Ohio playing Baseball as his team continues to clean up every tournament that they enter. His mom and dad had to go with him – making it possible for Grandpa to pour good (and bad) stuff into their lives over the weekend! Wahoo!

I would like you to meet Jonathan Rourke, my second Grandson! He is now 14 years old and has just graduated from Grade 8. He is growing very tall, is very handsome and is very bright. As the oldest son he is also responsible beyond his years as he is the leader of the small team including Thomas, Michael and Christopher.

While the other grandkids were playing computer games and Wii at Grandpa’s house – Jonathan worked with me.

He first came into my garage in 1996 -97 when he was a baby. You can see in the Photo that experience!

I introduced Jonathan to special machine, my Atlas Lathe. This lathe was purchased by my father one year before I was born… making it 67 years old now. It still works like a wonder and is able to do everything that you wish.

As Jonathan and I stood in front of the old lathe and I told him the stories of it – he said with a hushed tone, “Wow! That is really old!”

I glanced at him and grinned as I responded, “Whoah Boy, that is how old I am…!” He giggled with a big grin.

Placing a piece of hard wood in the lathe and with some instructions as to the dangers and the way that the machine works, Jonathan took the Lathe Tool in his hand and proceeded to create something for the very first time. He was very careful and did exactly what I showed him to do. Yes I did walk away and let him try by himself. This young man is very sharp and you can trust him – to do exactly what I tell him to do.

About 30 minutes later he held the newly minted Flower Vase in his hand. It was polished and gleaming – ready to take home.

Clifford, his cousin, was watching from the computer game he and Thomas were playing. He asked Jonathan if he would be taking shop this next year as he begins Grade Nine. Then Clifford said, “Shop class is so much fun… and you will do great after working with Grandpa in this garage!”

I kind of beamed from ear to ear. Clifford was my first student on the Lathe. Now Jonathan has taking the first class. Today or tomorrow his Brother Thomas will take the next step as well.

When the boys arrived the first thing that Thomas asks me is, “Grandpa, can I make something with you? I want to work in your garage with you!”

“Me too Grandpa” stated Christopher, who is 8 years old now.

Then Emma chirps, “Can I make something too Grandpa?”

Clifford grins… he is the Master’s Apprentice now… and can almost do it on his own… maybe teaching one of the younger ones now. He may work with Christopher today and tomorrow.

Do my words feel like I am beaming from ear to ear?

67 Years ago when my dad bought the Lathe from the fellow at the garage he worked at… I wonder if he ever dreamed about the day that his Great Grandkids would be making stuff on the Lathe someday? I just bet you he is grinning from ear to ear now… and beaming too… as “his boys” start to try things that he loved so much.

Yikes… I have to gulp a whole lot as I remember my Dad’s care for me and the way that he taught me how to be careful working with his tools…

There is something about being a Grandpa that cannot be compared to anything else.

This past week as I was demonstrating the tools and the shop at Lang Pioneer Village I was telling the story of how my own Grandpa Kirkpatrick showed me how to do stuff. And in a moment of elation I stated the obvious, “You know Grandpas are amazing! They can do anything!”

One small voice from the crowd in front of me chirped, “My Grandpa can do anything too… he does stuff with me too!”

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/