It Keeps Me Off The Streets

My father was an accomplished aeronautical engineer who had the privilege of working alongside John Glenn during his days as a test pilot, earning him the nickname “Mr. Performance” for his exceptional problem-solving skills. After my parents’ divorce when I was six, my mother moved me and my five brothers to Cut-n-Shoot, a real town known for figures like boxing heavyweight contender Roy Harris and Miss America 1983, Debra Maffett. During this time, my grandfather joined us, actively repairing our house and constructing rabbit hutches and chicken coops, introducing me to my first experiences with woodworking and tools. My mother soon remarried, and my stepfather, a skilled carpenter with a vast array of hand and power tools, shared my passion for building and repairing wood projects. In high school, I dedicated three years to studying woodworking. Upon graduating, my mother and stepfather gifted me my cherished scroll saw, which remains my favorite tool to this day. Over four decades, I’ve honed my skills, inheriting my father’s problem-solving abilities and gaining invaluable hands-on experience from my stepfather and grandfather. Woodworking has evolved from a hobby into a lifelong passion—one that I cherish for its ability to keep me engaged and fulfilled, often joking that it “keeps me off the streets” when asked why I love it so much.

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