My brothers and my Dad were skilled craftsmen. We always had a wood shop in our basements when we lived in Missouri. They made birdhouses, cabinets, tools, toys etc. As for me, I couldn't even make a paper airplane that could fly.
In 1949, I found myself in an 8th grade wood shop. Wishing to duplicate the accomplishments of my brothers and Dad I decided to build a bookcase and ordered the necessary wood.
Now, so you can fully appreciate the full impact of this tale, I find it necessary to describe the financial situation of America at this time. Gasoline was about 16 cents a gallon, stamps were two cents, movies were 25 cents, popcorn a dime, candy bars a nickel. In 1952, I earned 65 cents an hour as a movie usher and my girl friend, Shirley Reed started out a Newberry's Department Store for 35 cents an hour and we both were able to save a lot of money while enjoying full social lives. There was less money but it bought more.
So, back to the wood shop... as I started to build my bookcase, wood was broken or miscalculated so the bookcase became a planned footstool, which was reduced to book ends... and so on... Finally the shop teacher called my Mom and told her that he really liked me and wanted to pass me but I had to build SOMETHING. Mom suggested a doorstop.
Thus began the great project. After I told the family that I had drawn the 'plans?' for the doorstop, they requested a day by account of my progress. Giggling took place when I announced that I had cut it out and big laughs followed when I triumphantly announced that I had put on the first coat of paint.
Finally the big day arrived. The entire family had been sitting in the kitchen talking when I got home and pulled out the long awaited doorstop. It was five inches long and four and half inches high and had big hole in the middle for pulling it out from under doors (which were never stopped by my invention). My Mom laughed so hard tears streamed down her face, Brothers Bob and George had to get up and walk around to avoid stomach cramps while my thrifty Father yelled...Continue
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