David Shannon and Chris Watkins – Men with Abilities

I cannot imagine the struggle that David Shannon and Chris Watkins went through to plant the “Disabled Parking” sign at the North Pole!

I first caught the story this week and have been thinking about it for days now. The amount effort and energy that was required to do this is astounding.

Way to go David and Chris – and all your support team – whoever they might be.

When I lived in Regina I had a close friend that was in a wheel chair because of a motorcycle accident. The accident had severed his spinal column. But did that stop him? No way! The indomitable spirit with the man was something else.

One day when I went to see him we talked at length about the problems of getting around the community. He asked if I would like to experience the challenges for a day. I took the challenge.

The next day he picked me up in his van – which was completed adapted to his personal disabilities. I should say that it was adapted to his abilities – with this guy – NOTHING WAS IMPOSSIBLE – there was no “DIS” in his language!

He arrived with two wheel chairs… his own and one for me. I slipped into the passenger side of the van and away we went.

We headed for the mall and then set out in our wheel chairs.

Before we got into the mall I was already pooped. But that was because the first slope was hard to get up… the mall parking lot is sculpted somewhat to allow for good drainage – making the approach up hill.

The next little bump in the road was some construction on the mall parking lot where the workers had used a special grinding saw to remove the top level of pavement – leaving a depression that was rough and ready to receive a new layer of ceiling pavement – someday. I had noticed this depression weeks ago – just never thought about it – until I rolled a wheel chair through it.

The next bump in the road was the wheel chair accessible curb… where the construction crew made it possible for wheel chairs to get up on the curb…. BUT these guys never have taken a wheel chair up this slope – there was a ONE INCH bump at that spot that took a lot of extra oomph to get over it and mount the sidewalk…

At that point I was already tired. I had yet to get into the Mall. Punching the Button to open the electric door was easy… waiting for the slow opening door was hard – the cold wind and light rain was biting at my ears by now. Other people were rushing through the other doors and shaking the rain off inside… while we waited for the door to open far enough to get in…

In the Mall the Sale was big… and it meant that the Sales Folk in each store had all their products out and ready. Do you know how much stuff they cram into small aisles in a Sale? Tons of it is the answer… and just try to get in with a wheel chair… as excited shoppers grab for their bargains. You will not understand the frustration until you are sitting “Butt High” to a pushy woman!

We went downtown next to the places that were never made for wheel chairs of the old days. Bumps were bigger and doors were harder to get through.

We had started at 10 AM. It was now 3 PM. When he dropped me off I was tired. I had done something that had pooped me out – and that was only 5 hours in the chair.

Can you imagine the North Pole… no matter how many layers of clothing you would wear – you are sitting still in a wheel chair… and it is cold. When you sit still your feet cannot work or move… and they get cold.

David Shannon was paralyzed from the middle of his back down – like my friend was. Circulation in the legs and feet is a problem. Now add the temperatures of the North Pole with Ice and Snow and Wind.

David and Chris made it there this past April 11, 2009.

My hat comes off to you guys and what you have done for the rest of us with abilities. You guys definitely have abilities – not disabilities! The rest of us have disabilities when we could care less – or do not even think about what is needed to do the wheel chair thing.

At home…
My 88 year old mom is not disabled… but she uses a walker.

One day I walked alongside her to the Drug Store. The sidewalk made her walker bounce all over the place. The sidewalk is made up of many, many pieces of poured and repaired cement – that has heaved and moved a lot over the years… it is an old sidewalk!

Mom slowed and then asked if we could stop. I asked if she was tired out. “No” she said, “My arms and shoulders hurt with this bumpy sidewalk.” I watched from then on as she walked. The front wheels of the walk danced crazily as they hit each and ever bump.

There is a world that those of us with our own abilities know nothing. We do not see the little bumps and rises and falls that some others do.

Today I take my hat off and bow low to people with amazing abilities that do things the rest of us could never – ever do!

David and Chris – and your team are amazing – simply amazing!

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

Source:
http://www.disabilitynation.net/blog/quadriplegic-reaches-geographic-north-pole-historic-first

http://www.disaboom.com/Blogs/saydrah/archive/2009/04/21/quadriplegic-reaches-north-pole-a-milestone-for-disability-and-technology.aspx

Honeymoon #42 A Dream Come True

It was like putting your ear to a large Sea Shell and hearing the sound of the Sea far away. It was like being there again on the South Shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. It was like sleeping those beautiful nights on Cavendish Beach in Prince Edward Island. It was like the Camp Ground near the Cabot Trail, in Nova Scotia. It was like being there again 42 years ago…

It was wonderful.

However it all took place in Peterborough, Ontario at 925 Western Ave. – last night in our backyard.

I was able to get Bruce’s tent and two sleeping bags. Then with much less effort than the original tent needed 42 years ago – it popped into place near our large deck in the backyard.

At 11 PM we crawled into the warm and snuggly sleeping bags.

The cool air was coming in slowly and the sleeping bags did the trick – of talk about warm – all through the night…. Right through 45 degree F – 7 degree C night.

I am 65 years old now and it is not something a grown man should do… specially a Grandpa… no less the Grandma that sleeps with me. We should be RVing with People our own age… or in a Luxury Hotel with people on the Las Vegas strip not far away. We should not get down into a small tent in our backyard and giggle.

Well we are both young at heart and still loving what we do together. We can still do the things we always loved to do when we were younger – much younger.

We can take long walks. We can ride our bicycles all over the city. We can picnic. We can laugh and we can love. We are still Alida and Murray… and will enjoy what we have to do together… until we can’t anymore.

Why bother!?
A time is coming for both of us – when one of us will not be able to do what we do now. It is a simple reality. At 65 years old every single year – every single month and even every single day is priceless. This is the quality time we have been working for all these years. These are the moments that we need to be with each other even more.

Over these years of being a minister I have watched so many regrets. People that have said to me so many times… “If only we had taken time… if only.”

I want to end what I am doing by saying, “I am so happy that we did camp in our backyard… do you remember when that crazy mosquito followed us into the tent? That was so much fun.”

This past few days when we walked through the Sunny Brook hospital to visit our friend Terry… I glanced into the different rooms as we passed by. The beds were filled with people that cannot sleep in a tent any more. Many will not be able to stoop down through the low opening. Many can only now dream of what they used to do so long, long ago. And many are younger than I am.

The fact that we seem to lose what we once had is enough to try to maintain what we can do now… and maybe try something that we used to do. That is where the giggle is in our lives. How about yours?

However I can see and hear a couple reading this together… and he or she is saying to their partner… “Don’t you get any ideas! We are not trying that!”

Sorry to cause a problem for you as a couple… but maybe some of the spark could come alive again… if you just thought a little younger sometimes.

Okay – go simpler than a camp out in your backyard… When was the last time you held hands and walked slow through the park together?

Over these years I have watched the spark die in many couples… at the age of 35 and 45 and 55…. By 65 it is colder than an old lava flow…

Why write about it?
Well one day… six Grandkids will stand as a testimony to what Grandpa was like to them. And above all I want them to remember one old guy that was not old at heart… but really young at heart – right to his last breath.

Gotta run… I have breakfast to prepare for my bride. She is still in her sleeping bag as I type these words out for you. Sleeping outside makes her hungry. It did that 42 years ago… and she hasn’t changed on bit!!!

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

Honeymoon - Wahooo!

I planned for weeks for the big day. I was getting married and what happened next was just as important… the Honeymoon! Oh Yah!

It was a little over three months before I traveled to Saskatchewan for our Wedding that I began laying plans for the Honeymoon that we would have together. Alida was in Regina dealing with her final exams in Nursing and the Wedding….and I was in Trois Rivieres, Quebec dealing with computers and business machines in the heart of Quebec.

One of my customers was a famous Hunting, Fishing and Outdoors store in Cap de la Madeleine, Que… just across from Trois Rivieres. The guys were great in the store and very helpful.

I bought the camp stove – a three burner Coleman, sleeping bags – warm and fuzzy, and the tent that we would be tucked into each night. As well I got the needed cooking pots and accessories were in the same store.

On September 5th I packed the car full of all the camping stuff and drove to the Montreal Dorval Airport – where I parked it and climbed aboard the plane to Regina.

On September 9, 1967 we flew out of Regina, Sask. for Toronto and then Montreal.

Everything was seamless – except for a few draw backs… and that was where this story begins.

Exiting the Reception Hall at the church in our new Honeymoon clothes we headed to the airport in Regina.

Alida’s nursing friends wanted to get one more photo of us outside the terminal – so we headed that way. That was really about not only a photo but also a complete baptism in confetti. One her dear friends grabbed the collar of my white shirt and huge hand full of confetti inside my shirt, which went into my trousers and into my under-shorts. Both Alida and I got plastered!

(I picked up her sewing machine and went inside… oh forgot to tell that part. The Singer Sewing machine was traveling with us to its new home in Quebec.)

We arrived at the ticket counter to check in… The two gals behind the ticket processing part took my tickets and looked at them seriously… One then slowly said.. “I am sorry sir there seems to be a problem… your tickets have been cancelled. You are not able to fly today… there may be room on a flight leaving tomorrow… but nothing more today…”

I was stunned. To say that I was exasperated would be putting it mildly. I had looked at my watch all day… and had it all times to be there when we had to be.. with time to spare. How could this happen???!!!!????

I looked at Alida and the panic had to show by then. Then I looked back to the Air Canada Ticket counter person… and one was grinning slowly – trying to suppress the out right laughter… and then she said suddenly – “Oh, I think we have room after all…”

A few of my cousins and also another friend stood to the side busting themselves with laughter. The girl behind the counter said, “They made me do it!” pointing to the guys that were laughing so hard.

(These cousins were positively cruel… to another cousin they had broke into the house trailer that they were using for their Honeymoon and made a complete mess of everything including honey on the door knobs etc… and all their clothing dumped into the center of the trailer floor… THEY WERE DANGEROUS. My vow to get out of town without them “getting” me was real… but they did get me!!!)

We arrived in Toronto about 6 PM. (Last night we were in Toronto again at exactly 6 PM – 42 years later – visiting a friend in the hospital.)

The first night was in our own apartment in Trois Rivieres – then in the morning we headed to the Gaspe of Quebec.

The second night was a camping adventure along the St. Lawrence River – high up above the water with rain impending… and river far below us – clouds rolling in and the new sheet of plastic over the entire tent. The plastic rattled incessantly – ALL NIGHT LONG!

Every night we tented all the way around Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. What a beautiful trip it was! There was nothing but sunshine – every day for two weeks! Then on the last day as we drove back into Quebec it started to rain.

Both of us were prairie chickens… and had never been East – EVER! It was the greatest thing in the world to see so much beauty with the one that you love so much. We were young and full of life… and nothing mattered back then.

The Honeymoon ended in Quebec about a month and half later… I became very ill with a flu bug of some sort. Man was I sick. Then a week later Alida came down with the same sickness. She was very ill.

We had purchased a little pup that I had to take back to the breeder… Alida was far too ill to take care of it… and she was not getting better.

With no health insurance and no doctor and not so good French… where do you go to get help? I had lived here for over a year but did not know where or what to do… Not a good feeling to be caught in this predicament.

We did get to a doctor that had not so good English… and tried to tell me what the problem was… “Your woman is sick… and it should get better in a few months… you are going to be how should I say… a father. Congratulations!”

“Do you understand… my English is not very good… you know a Father… with kids… not a priest…”

I wasn’t saying anything at all… kind of dumb struck I guess.

That was the day that I found out our daughter Dana was going to make her way into this world… in July of 1968… and my world was changing big time… and would change like never before.

In November of 1967 – three months after getting married my company asked me to move to Fredericton, New Brunswick – where Dana would be born the next summer.

So why tell you all that? Did you need to know…?

Nope but some day my grand kids will read about their grandpa… and I want to tell them how it all happened… and if they every travel to Quebec, and New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia they will be able to say “My grandpa was here… let me tell you a story..”

Tonight I hope to Honeymoon in our backyard with my Bride of 42 years… I have planned it all… hopefully there will be no rain… and well… it is almost like Quebec….!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

I DID - I DO - 42 BIG ONES

I remember most of it…. I remember arriving at the church with my friend Gord. We had spent the morning getting all dressed up for this special occasion. But it was oh so long ago…

We had laughed a lot… kidded each other… and tried to be serious… but at that moment the laughter was gone… I was quiet. Gord turned to me and said, “So you are sure that you want to really do this?!?” My reply was, “I have never been more serious… let’s go…”

Together we walked up the steps of the old Carmichael United Church on 15th Avenue in Regina, Saskatchewan to go through with what I was about promise.

The church was old smelling that day – we were young. The floors creaked. The minister was waiting for us. The Minister I knew well. Together we followed him to a side room where we waited and waited and waited – for what seemed to be forever! The Minister went to check to see if everyone was in place… and to see if the Bride had arrived yet… it seemed longer than forever for him to come back… but then he did.

He looked at me and asked, “Are you ready…?"

I kind of nodded. Words were not there. They kind of stuck in my throat. I was about to commit my life to another person – forever! I guess I was ready… I thought I was ready… I hoped I was ready… I really wished that I was ready… I tried to look ready… I … think… I … was …ready…

Together we walked out to the front of an adoring crowd of witnesses… made up of family and friends that were waiting for us to get it together… and just do it!

There was a sound toward the back of the church and everyone turned… and there she was… my Bride – Karen Alida Jones… Wow! I had known her and loved her for the past 5 years and 5 weeks… now “Jonesy” would become my wife.

She was walking beside her Uncle Neil Edwards holding his arm as he was about to give her away.

As they walked down the aisle that day she was beaming from ear to ear under her veil. There was a sparkle in her eyes as she came towards me. All the guests and people disappeared at that moment… it was just her and me. We were about to get married… do the final thing… WOW!

The Minister was some one special to both of us… Rev. Benjamin Kirkpatrick. We knew him as Ben. Ben had been in my life since I was born. He was 12 years old when I was born… one of my Mom’s brothers… who then became a Minister with the Apostolic Church of Pentecost (ACOP).

At that moment in time I was 23 years old and was standing beside my soon to be 21 year old Bride. The Minister was only 35 years old… wow – it was a long time ago… We were all young then.

Rev. Ben Kirkpatrick is likely reading this about now … at 77 years old and now looking at his hip replacement in a few weeks… and today his nephew is 65 – retired, senior citizen as well. Where did the time go?

Back to the special moment…
As we walked out of the sanctuary towards the front entrance of the church I remember the weight of Alida’s arm on mine. I could feel her warmth and the hug she gave me as we walked down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. Murray and Alida Lincoln… now married and beaming from ear to ear!

Off to the Photography Studio – then back to the church… for the Lunch prepared for us…

The ceremony started at 10:30 AM. We had to be on a flight for Montreal by 1:00 PM. Yes I was always looking at my watch…

Now…
42 years later, two daughters Dana and Anda, two son-in-laws Bruce and Bill, and six wonderful Grandkids…. Clifford, Emma, Jonathan, Thomas, Michael, and Christopher.

These 42 years has covered a lot of ground… Regina for the ceremony, Trois Rivieres, Quebec for our first home together, then Fredericton, New Brunswick for our second home, then up to Oakville, Ontario, followed by Walkerton, Ontario, followed by Oakville again, followed by Hong Kong, then back to Oakville, then over to Scarborough, Ontario, then off to Yorkton, Saskatchewan, followed by Regina, Saskatchewan and finally to Peterborough, Ontario…

I DID and I STILL DO! Today is celebration day! I love you Alida… what more can I say!!!! Wahooo I am married… and have been for 42 years!

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

Back to school day!

Back to school day! Wow another year is under way. Can you believe it? Where did the summer go?

Although we are in the senior’s category – the golden years – we are facing a back to school day as well. My mom at 88 years is off and going again… today she heads back to the Activity Haven which is located in a very old school built in 1889 – 1907 – the one time Queen Alexandra School.

It is with mixed emotions that I let her go today. With over a two month battle with more deteriorating bones and major pain she is still trying to get out on her own. Should I let my mother go for the full day? Will she be alright? Should I write note to let her “teachers” know about her failing condition and to immediately give me a call if she needs to come home?

I am like my daughters were with their kids when they first set out for school. Sheesh! I am like I was when my girls headed out to school for that first day as well. A silly nervous parent that can’t let go…

This new age I have entered in a profound way is called the “Sandwich Generation”. I am the piece of meat inside of the sandwich – I am one of the sandwiches in the lunch pail – all squished in there… I am sandwiched between my children & their kids – and the care of my own mother in her aging condition.

My kids are not the problem… they just keep moving on… and their own kids just move that much faster. Yet now I am almost sedentary in my own life because of the need to provide care for an aging parent.

This past long weekend was great. Alida and I attended the Kinmount Fair which was simply amazing. We were alone in the car as we drove there and back each day for one hour and a half – three hours a day. It was like being on a holiday – just the two of us. Huh!? – almost romantic!

For two years and a half Alida always rides in the back seat – so that Mom can get in and out easier. I missed my wife sitting beside me.

Complaining – Nope – just explaining what it is like to be a Sandwich Person.

Now I think… what will happen to me or my wife when the age progresses faster for us as well? Where will we live – and who will we live with? Will this condition of aging produce more pressure for my own kids? What of the failing health issues and what of the assistance that I might need in days to come? Who will give it?

Early death looks good sometimes… yet I do not want to die! I am intending to live forever – didn’t you know that?!? You better believe it!

I am at home now waiting for a call from the Principal… is Mom okay?

What a stressful day… Oh boy!

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

Source:
http://www.thesandwichgeneration.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandwich_generation

Mark’s Spring Pole Lathe and Its Magic

I conquered the Spring Pole Lathe! I love it! This is one of the coolest tools I have ever used. No kidding!

If you read my posting yesterday you will know that I was about to try the Lathe. A great man by the name of Mark Brelsford assembled this amazing tool a number of years ago. Mark passed away in 2003 – and I believe the Spring Pole Lathe has sat there without being used since that time.

Don, one of the volunteers, told me that he thought the pole had lost its spring and was pretty brittle as it was old.

Actually what had happened was that the Pole had been left under tension for a season or two and it had eventually stayed in the bent down position.

But even in the bent over mode it was still more than usable. It worked fine. There was just enough bounce for this “beginner” to get it working super.

For the people that should be scratching their heads about now – asking – “What is a Spring Pole Lathe?” I offer the following…

First you need to know that a Lathe is a tool that rapidly turns a piece of wood counter clockwise (top towards you). The wood is fastened snuggly between two secure points – left and right. In the normal lathe the left side secure point usually provides the power from an electric motor/power supply. When the switch is turned on the piece of wood to be turned begins to spin rapidly in front of the Wood Turner.

The Wood Turner then applies pressure to his wood turning tools on the turning piece of wood and a design begins to appear as he works it left and right while pushing the tool into the spinning wood.

BUT – what happened before electricity was channeled through the wires and into the work shop? What happened before the turn of the century when 1900 came along with all its new inventions?

Actually to be correct what happened before the years of the 1850s when some rather new ideas started to appear with iron and wood creating new and better machines… and the treadle lathe…where the wood could be turned very quickly into something of value?

The idea of the Spring Pole Lathe dates back perhaps to 900 years before now – into the 1200s – and 1300s… believe it or not! Wow! This idea is old.

Yet as old as it is – it works fine.

The Spring Pole Lathe involves using a cord or leather strip that is fastened somewhere between the long sapling pole pointing skyward above the Wood Turner, then downward to the peddle that the Wood Turner has at his foot. While proceeding downward/or upward – it is wound around the piece of wood being turned. This wrap around cord then turns the wood rapidly counter clockwise on the down stroke of the Wood Turner’s foot… then the turning wood reverses rapidly clockwise as the pole springs back up to its starting position… where the Wood Turner then steps on the peddle again.

The constant and regular rhythm of the Wood Turner’s leg and foot on the peddle, makes the piece of wood almost hum between the holders. The applied wood turning gouges remove the wood as easy as butter!

Yesterday as I tried the first push downward of the peddle it was like magic… the piece of wood leapt to life and flew rapidly around… then proceeded to change directions as I lifted my leg.

Within in moments it was whirring in the old lathe that Mark made. Amazing – simply amazing.

When Mark made this Lathe to be used at the Kinmount Fair he knew more than the rest of the volunteers at the Fair as to possibilities that the Spring Pole Lathe would be a huge hit and a delight to everyone that would look on.

Mark had arrived from Britain in 1968 and brought with him his ability and knowledge of things that many Canadians had never heard about. Mark loved wood and knew that with the talent that he possessed and the wood that was so readily available – something good could happen.

But Mark also knew in the modern fast moving world of wood working that bigger is better… or that seems to be the perception that many have … is what rules the world of most wood workers.

If we can just buy something that has more horse power, uses more amperage, and has a more powerful but smaller motors we can make it better and bigger and FASTER!

Mark and I both knew that by putting more horsepower and more amperage between us and the wood piece we are working on – that we lost the beauty of our own muscle and sweat that was so much part of the original craftsman ship.

Sadly the only hint of craftsmanship today is in the name of the tool – not in the product that the person makes.

So often the things that are made are simply a fast reproduction of something that is whipped out with a very noisy, expensive, complicated tool that will burn out or breakdown in a short period of time.

The beauty of the Spring Pole Lathe that Mark made was that it may have cost about $15 to make… and a cost to Mark of some time to build it. And it is still working fine… just the same as it did for Mark for about 15 years at the Fair. (I am not absolutely sure of that date – but that was a suggested answer to my question of one of the men that knew Mark and what he used to do at the Fair).

My demonstration yesterday…
Every time I started the whirring action of the leg pumping - my leg going up and down… it drew a crowd. It was amazing the power that the Lathe has to mesmerize the biggest and toughest men. It stops them dead and their wives stand beside them grinning as the “man show” starts.

Now you have to know that about 90% of the men that I met in the Pioneer Display area were following their wives… the other 10% were with their kids. Men generally want “real man stuff” when they give their time to a thing like a Fair… looking at someone carding wool is okay… or someone with a loom in operation… or someone doing lace making of some sort… well it just doesn’t cut it…

BUT tools on display… or tools working will stop a man every time… men and tools are like a natural fit. Now bigger and more powerful tools will make “him” drool… and a Spring Pole Lathe will stop him dead… and he will stand with a puzzled look… dumbfounded and speechless… JUST TOO FUNNY!

Now there were three basic kinds of men circulating yesterday at the Fair…

FIRST – there were the locals that work in tough stuff all the time… work on the farm… work in the bush and with saw mills… the down to earth kind of guys.

SECOND – there were the guys from the BIG WORLD out there… the GUYS FROM THE CITY! They are staying at cottages on the lakes nearby. Whoah… these dudes are so much better educated than the locals are. They have HOME DEPOT where they buy the best… tools and the biggest whatever. These guys have almost all been to UNIVERSITY and COLLEGE – they work at really important downtown – in the city every day kind of jobs… mega bucks!

THIRD – the TEACHERS/IMPRESSERS of all things for kids and girl friends… As they guide their dates through the pioneer maze they talk as if they know everything… they are impressing her with their wit and wonderful brains. Too funny.

In the THIRD Group – also is “daddy knows everything”… and with genuine interest he tries to guide his kids to what he knows and wants them to see to broaden their life knowledge…

FIRST, SECOND and THIRD stop dead when they see the Spring Pole Lathe… NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN ONE WORK BEFORE… and only one in the entire day had every heard or read about it in their entire life time.

The craftsmen that have Lathes at home… know wood turning were fascinated with the machine. The house builders with all the horsepower and amperage tools – loved it… but couldn’t figure how they could get it from job to job… and how the hourly rate they charge would ever cover the costs or making one turned piece at a time.

There actually was another kind of Group that looked on… they are the women… genuinely interested… and very knowledgeable.

Two ladies stood talking to each other and were amazed at the machine. They remarked that “Don would have loved to see this…!” I asked where Don was. Together they replied, “He went fishing…” with some contempt in their voices.

I cannot tell you how many times I had my photo taken. It was as if I was the celebrity of the day. Too funny. I was answering questions left – right and center… I had read over the information sheets that Mark or someone had left behind for people like me to read.

I was the “expert” at that moment… with about 15 minutes experience.

I stopped my wood turning at the end of each time of explanation and told the listeners of a man that had a vision to make the Spring Pole Lathe… and his name was Mark… and that Mark had passed away in 2003 after many years of doing active volunteer work in the Fair… I told them that I was simply operating the Lathe now after at least 6 years of not being used…

An unusual thing happened about an hour after I began. A lady approached when no one was there… and said softly… I want to thank you for making this Lathe work again… it means so much to me – and all of us… We miss Mark so much.” She was the first one of many other volunteers that came by to day much the same kind of thing. Mark was a friend of many people… a good friend.

At one point a beautiful young lady… and actually two beautiful young ladies came to talk to me separately…. One had tears in her eyes as she spoke to me… “My grandpa made this Lathe… thank you for making it work again.” She missed her grandpa dearly… I kind of choked up when she stood in front of me after she said her words.

Earlier I had given Roni, Mark’s wife, a printed copy of what I posted yesterday. She went to a private place and read it by herself… I came over from the Lathe to see Roni giving Alida a big hug and she was crying. (Sorry Roni - I had to tell that part) then she turned and gave me a big hug as well with her eyes filled with tears… “If Mark was here you two would be talking tools all day… thank you for doing this…”

One Spring Pole Lathe has brought two families together… and has helped to fill some deep feelings for a lot of volunteers that do some excellent work.

Not every one loved me for what I did… nor did they love the Spring Pole Lathe… One Dear Old, Bossy Lady was adamant that, “There is no room for that thing! It sticks out too far and we have way too many people coming through here! There is enough to see as it is!”

I almost walked back to my vehicle last Friday just after I arrived… this “wonderful lady” was my welcoming committee of one. She wanted me there about as much as nasty bug!

To her I kindly say(now)… “Please Mam.. I didn’t do anything wrong… don’t beat me Missus… I is just a poor lil wood worker that loves that silly old Spring Pole Lathe… please don’t beat me Missus… please – I is jus a poor lil boy…”

In reality this “Dear Old, Bossy Lady” reminds me of some dear old Church Ladies that nearly drove me nuts for 35 years as a Minister. YIKES! Makes you shudder… yikes!

As I worked the Lathe and talked with the dozens upon dozens of people… she walked by and looked on… with a somewhat puzzled face.

I just bet Mark was grinning about then … and even laughing out loud… he likely remembers the Dear Old, Bossy Lady too… too funny!

Sorry I digressed… the story is about the Spring Pole Lathe… but as you can see it still works its magic…

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

Source:
http://historicgames.com/lathes/springpole.html
http://www.instructables.com/id/A-modern-build-of-a-medieval-spring-pole-lathe/
http://www.bloodandsawdust.com/sca/lathes4.html
http://www.manytracks.com/lathe/lathe.pdf

Dear Mark Brelsford....

Background for my letter to Mark…
In 1968 Mark and Roni Brelsford left their home in England to begin their new adventure in Canada. Eventually they settled in the Kinmount area of Ontario.

Mark was a Chemical Engineer. And Mark of was a lover of wood – working with wood in many ways.

In 2003 at the age of 63 years, Mark passed away.

I never knew Mark – but yet… now I have come to know him well. I came to know him through his tools.

At the Kinmount Fair, that is held every Labour Day weekend, I have joined a group of “Pioneers” that faithfully come each year to show their abilities and the crafts of our forefathers.

Through a unique happenchance I met up with Roni who is one of the volunteers. She told me that her husband had once been involved working with the antique tools at the Fair. She encouraged me to come along and get involved.

So each day we have driven one hour and half each way to join them.

I began my involvement last Friday. Today will be my third day. Now I know Mark as well.

I am going to let you read my letter to Mark to help you understand how we met.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

My letter to Mark Brelsford…

Sunday, September 6, 2009
Peterborough, Ontario

Dear Mark Brelsford,

We haven’t met yet Mark. I am the guy that is now involved in that special corner in the Pioneer Exhibit at the Kinmount Fair. I have been using all of the tools that you and others collected over the years then mounted for display so carefully.

Being there is kind of like standing on “holy ground” for me. I simply knew when I stepped into the corner I felt like I had been there before… yet that is impossible.

Just after I stepped into that special corner I went looking for Roni, that special lady that made the contact with me last month.

I don’t need to tell you how special she is – simply because you loved her so much. In fact my involvement in this weekend is really part of a love story that is still going on. I feel honored to be this close to see it happen.

Mark, I began the weekend by setting up a table that one of the guys provided for us. I think he was a friend of yours and helped you often as well. When he met me he did everything possible to help me make our presentation a success. He is an amazing guy to say the least.

It was on that first day that I discovered the first wood plane. It is small, big enough to do a good job on small areas, yet small enough to fit your two hands easily. It is the one that was darker in colour – likely from being used so much over the years. It had the cow horn like front handle – instead of the traditional Canadian style knob.

Then right beside the smaller wood plane was its big brother, and their two cousins. Four planes in all were lying beside each other on that back shelf near the window.

One of the larger “cousin planes” had a sticker on the bottom that simply said “Roni” – and gave a date.

I know that you may have gasped just a little with that last bit of information now being known – but it is okay. I will explain.

Yesterday I set up the display in such a way to show off some of the tools the way that Pioneers once used them.

First - I chose two of the Brace and Bit handles from the back wall. One is a little more modern – perhaps about 80 years old and the other one is that carved Brace and Bit with the finely polished handle and the delicately carved side sections. It is at least one hundred to one hundred fifty years old – is my guess.

Next I chose that huge old wooden mallet that must weigh a good 8 to 10 pounds. Even for me as a wood carver it strains my arm to do much with it. After working with it for a little bit you get a feeling of a forearm work out. I wanted the “passer buy” to sense what the muscle power is all about of long ago.

I had brought along two of my own mallets from my workshop along with some chisels to use.

Lastly I chose three of the “cousin planes”.

On the made up work bench that was offered for me to use I fastened some plain pine boards. One was for drilling – using the Brace and Bit, the second one was for chiseling – making practice mortise holes for the Mortise and Tenon joinery, the third was held on its side to allow the planes a surface to be used on.

Then the crowds started to come – and did they ever come! It was a little like standing by a solidly moving river of humanity. But they never went by quickly – they stopped for a long time and talked to me about everything in that corner.

I must admit that some of things were new to me too. Sometimes I had to say I wasn’t sure. Within minutes however another old man would come by and give me the answer to the previous question. What a learning experience that was!

Mark, the part that might most interest you was the kids. I think that was the best part of the whole time I have in being there… hundreds and hundreds of kids that came by to ask me the questions – and they all asked the same thing, “Can I try it?” – “Can I be next?”

As the kids tried the tools I pointed out special features of each tool and what they were used for – and how important they were.

Mark… it was during one of those moments of explaining that I first saw the uniqueness of the wood planes – and then I looked much, much closer. I saw that all the planes had the similar markings – with the corners all being carved and smoothed the same way… then there was that special beading that was inscribed down the length of the plane’s body… then I really saw the cow horn handle for the first time.

When the crowd abated somewhat I held the larger plane up to the light streaming through the window. It was at that moment I saw the special stamp on the heel of the plane… with the German words and the special marks. Both the small plane and the larger plane had the marks.

These planes are really old. They are of very high quality – a real treasure in their day. My guess was at that time that they are likely over one hundred to one hundred and fifty years old.

After the kids each tried the planes I explained the possibilities of their age and the fact that some craftsman a long time ago had used these planes to make some very special furniture in his shop.

The look in their eyes as they heard what I said was very special. They stared at me intently… then they slowly looked down at the plane that they were holding with deep appreciation. It was kind of like watching some one hold a huge bar of gold – “WOW…” Then their brother or sister would ask – “Can I hold it…”

Mark, the plane is a treasure… and very special… but I never knew until the end of the day just how special all four of these planes were. And I didn’t know how special all of the finishing planes were that were on the next shelves down too… They all are treasures… worth millions upon millions of accounts and historical value…

At the end of the day I called Roni over to ask her a question about the planes and the fact that they had her name on the bottom.

She smiled and told me that these planes were yours. They were the ones that you had insisted on bringing with you from Britain in 1968 – even though you were only allowed so much weight – you brought the planes because they were worth so much to you.

She told me how you had purchased them and had treasured them. I know now what you saw in them and how important they were to you.

When I pointed out to Roni the way the small plane has that piece of Rose Wood carefully fastened to it with the special dove tail joinery(I know that isn’t the right term – but it is the only way that I know how to say it now..) – even she was amazed and said… “I didn’t know this…” But she did tell me the way they came to Canada with you folks and her reaction to your determination to bring them with you.

And Mark, the other finishing planes that were on the next shelves down… they were part of Roni’s family heirlooms as well… they had been used to work on the House of Parliament in England. WOW! Go figure they ended up all the way up in an almost remote area of Ontario, Canada – on the Kinmount Fair ground!

But Mark, I want to tell you… the people and particularly the kids… will never be the same again – after they had this experience this weekend.

This was not a simple summer Fair experience – it was perhaps life changing for each of them… just the way it was when you talked to each of the kids that you met over all the years that you did the same thing I am doing now.

Mark, though we have never met, I want you to know that I have caught your vision to touch the lives of these special people – and make a difference.

And Mark… hang on to this one… remember that old Pole Lathe that you created… and worked so well each year… we pulled it out last night… set it up and today I am going to operate it showing a whole new world what Mark Brelsford believed in. I tried it out last night and it still works just the same way that it did when you used it.

One more thing Mark… I kind of think that you already know what I have been doing in that special corner of the Pioneer Exhibit…

When I was talking to that one young boy he was looking intently at the small plane as he held it is his hands… I said to him…. “You know I think that the man who once owned this plane is probably smiling now as you have tried this on the wood. He is happy that you now know about it and what it can do… ”

You were there Mark… I nearly cried when the boy replied… “Wow that is so cool… thank you.”

Thanks Mark…

Your Friend,
Murray Lincoln

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http://www.murraylincoln.com/