What My Father Instilled in Me

[DockShootinJack]

Growing up as a Mechanic's son we fixed everything. Wasn't much we discarded unless it was beyond the realm. That base found me in Trade School while I was still in High School. In the Electrical Program I went to the VICA skills Olympics in 93. Made I all the way to Louisville Kentucky where I tool 3rd Place in the Nation. Big Times for a small town kid from Alabama. I did electrical work until a Machine Shop hired me to build purpose built machines to run production parts. Along the way I learned to weld and Machine. Next leg of the journey found me as Multi-craft Plant Maintenance. I am still here making machines run to produce parts that supply the world. Last Sunday one of the air conditioners got hit by lightning during a thunderstorm. I ordered one Monday. With some shipping delays I made it here Friday Morning. I left work long enough to install it and then back to the factory to finish the day. . I said all of that to say that while my friends were playing video games and such I was learning life skills, work ethic, and the ability to fix almost anything. Every day I am thankful for what my parents gave me.

[Slab]

That is absolutely great. I'm not sure millennials, or whatever the current generation of "non-mechanicals" can do at all to help themselves. They just call someone to fix stuff. As a kid (and now too) I loved to take "stuff that broke" apart to see how it was made, and sometimes I was able to fix it. My folks always said we took stuff apart to "find the magnet". I guess there was some truth to that too. lol

Great stuff, great job, thanks for sharing.

[SuperDave336]

One thing I regret terribly is not paying more attention to my dad when he was working. He was an electrician and Mr. FixItAll too. I just took it for granted and now could kick my butt for it.

[SpeckledSlab]

Great accomplishments. Not all duct tape and baling wire schooling there.

[jbird68]

That's great. My son just graduated high school and instead of college he is going to Carpenters Trade school. He does play video games but not non-stop, all day. He DID NOT want to go in debt from college. He will be getting paid while learning a trade instead. And not be like me and learn how to do things for myself on YouTube. I was lucky enough to have very little debt because the company I worked for compensated me for my education.

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[BuckeyeCrappie]

Good stuff. I’m like Ed…I am always into something. Lil D just scratches her head

[DockShootinJack]

That's great. My son just graduated high school and instead of college he is going to Carpenters Trade school. He does play video games but not non-stop, all day. He DID NOT want to go in debt from college. He will be getting paid while learning a trade instead. And not be like me and learn how to do things for myself on YouTube. I was lucky enough to have very little debt because the company I worked for compensated me for my education.

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Skilled Trades now pay better than most 4 year degrees

[DockShootinJack]

One thing I regret terribly is not paying more attention to my dad when he was working. He was an electrician and Mr. FixItAll too. I just took it for granted and now could kick my butt for it.

Dad says that his dad went and looked at a wrecker /tow truck bed. Went to the shop and built one. I have the same gift. All I need to do is see it

[Mstr Dan]

A lot of us grew up learning if we didn't fix fix it would not get fixed. Junk drawers were our hardware store. If you need something well then make it.
to all the do'ers and fixers out there

Now if I could just get my spiders to make more silk I could make some really light fishing line!

[DockShootinJack]

Seeing the kids entering the workforce you can really see how far away from this we have went