ME, DAD AND POWER TOOLS

My dad was the most efficient user of power tools that fit a homeowner’s toolbox. He didn’t own many, just a power drill and a circular power saw, but the energy he saved from using just those two items and his only son, are a remarkable testament to the body of work he performed, and the labor he saved. I wouldn’t even begin to mention the accolades he received from the results he achieved from all three. Tony was a genius!

I know, I still have some of the scars from his genius, still possess some of the back pain from his mastering efficiency to the fullest sense. Power tools are what make the man, not the son who holds the ladder, who holds the wood, who holds his breath as Pop slams the circular baby into the plywood, as it screeches across the grain of pine, maple and oak, spewing saw dust into the air and up my nostrils. Just make sure you don’t move, or you will hear a crescendo of Italian curse words fall about your ears.

Dad was a leader, he often lead me to one kind of job or another, be it woodworking or painting a wall, Pop lead me there. We were an interesting army of two. He being the General and Admiral (some plumbing) and I the dog foot soldier doing the grunt work. Once we had to paint this factory office on a wintry Sunday afternoon. Orders were issued thus: “Get a broom, clean out the corners of the ceiling, and follow with a rag and clean between the walls and the ceiling, When you are done, get on the floor and clean along the woodwork and floor, and don’t forget the corners, I’m going to mix the paint” or, “You stand here and hold this wooden tee (Weighing a ton) with the sheet rock on it, while I nail it up.” Dad was the master planner, always had solutions to problems, namely: me.

One day we were going to paint this house and Dad found this one wall with a lot of nails and nicks in it. He says to me: “You want some coffee?” Me thinking he was going to send me out to get it, said “Yes”, He says: “Good, I’ll go get some at the deli, meanwhile you get all these nails out, and get some putty to smooth out the bad spots. And make sure you sand”

What a genius!