My grandfather was always on time to open his factory. If he wasn't the first person there, he was the second by seconds. That is until one snowy day when I was born.
From then on, he would start his car to warm it up. He would then come back inside to play with his new little toy... me. My mom said he they would all take turns, putting me on my back and watching me flip over. A novelty for sure, but whatever the case my grandfather wasn't quite as on time as usual anymore.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Slingshots and shoes
They don't seem to have much in common slingshots and shoes until you met my grandfather.
As a kid living with my my mom, grandparents, and uncles I remember the smells of the kitchen, the grease of the garage and the adventures I had with my uncle.
One day, my uncle got a new slingshot. Remembering stories of David and Goliath and watching my uncle play with his toy... I wanted one too! I mentioned to my grandfather about my uncles new toy and how I wasn't allowed to play with it. No sooner did I tell him, than we were off to the garage where he found one of his old work shoes. He took the shoe and a pair of heavy duty scissors and cut out the tongue from his old Clark Wallabees. He pierced the leather with an awl and we went out to the back yard to find some wood. He carefully showed me how to cut, prepare and clean the wood from which he fashioned a great sling shot complete with a leather tongue from his shoe. Little kids are rough and I'm not sure what became of that slingshot, but I still have it here in my memory and someday so will my son.
As a kid living with my my mom, grandparents, and uncles I remember the smells of the kitchen, the grease of the garage and the adventures I had with my uncle.
One day, my uncle got a new slingshot. Remembering stories of David and Goliath and watching my uncle play with his toy... I wanted one too! I mentioned to my grandfather about my uncles new toy and how I wasn't allowed to play with it. No sooner did I tell him, than we were off to the garage where he found one of his old work shoes. He took the shoe and a pair of heavy duty scissors and cut out the tongue from his old Clark Wallabees. He pierced the leather with an awl and we went out to the back yard to find some wood. He carefully showed me how to cut, prepare and clean the wood from which he fashioned a great sling shot complete with a leather tongue from his shoe. Little kids are rough and I'm not sure what became of that slingshot, but I still have it here in my memory and someday so will my son.
You can do it!
If experience is the best teacher, my grandfather had a PhD.
Upon arriving in America, his work experience was limited. Jobs were hard to come by and employers had few ethics and employees had no security. While he was very smart, he did not have skills that he could call upon. In order to gain experience, my grandfather used one of his natural talents, his smarts and a bit of craftiness.
And so the story would go something like this. Interview for the job. When asked, "Can you do XYZ?". My grandfather naturally replied "Of course, I've done XYZ before". Which of course was a complete fabrication. But, by the next time he applied for a job, which was relatively soon after they found out he had no clue what he was doing, he really did have experience doing it.
He did this... job after job... until one day he met someone that realized his potential. He took my grandfather under his wing and taught him a trade. This is probably be one of the greatest gifts you can give to anyone. For my grandfather took this and made a career out of it ad eventually a business in which his whole family would one day be employed.
Upon arriving in America, his work experience was limited. Jobs were hard to come by and employers had few ethics and employees had no security. While he was very smart, he did not have skills that he could call upon. In order to gain experience, my grandfather used one of his natural talents, his smarts and a bit of craftiness.
And so the story would go something like this. Interview for the job. When asked, "Can you do XYZ?". My grandfather naturally replied "Of course, I've done XYZ before". Which of course was a complete fabrication. But, by the next time he applied for a job, which was relatively soon after they found out he had no clue what he was doing, he really did have experience doing it.
He did this... job after job... until one day he met someone that realized his potential. He took my grandfather under his wing and taught him a trade. This is probably be one of the greatest gifts you can give to anyone. For my grandfather took this and made a career out of it ad eventually a business in which his whole family would one day be employed.
Friends to all
Not wealthy, not at all. In the days after arriving from Europe, my grandfather changed his job nearly as often as my grandmother lit shabbos candles.
But he was always rich. If he had a dollar in his pocket, he had 2. Often he would come home and ask my grandmother, "what do we have to eat?". To which she would reply, "not much". Then, he would take his couple dollars and run down to the market to buy a salami and loaf of bread . He would then invite guests (off the street) for a meal.
In hebrew this is called hachnasat orchim or "welcoming guests" and is one of the most important commandments in Judaism.
But he was always rich. If he had a dollar in his pocket, he had 2. Often he would come home and ask my grandmother, "what do we have to eat?". To which she would reply, "not much". Then, he would take his couple dollars and run down to the market to buy a salami and loaf of bread . He would then invite guests (off the street) for a meal.
In hebrew this is called hachnasat orchim or "welcoming guests" and is one of the most important commandments in Judaism.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Good neighbor
A man, a neighbor, a member of my grandfather's synagogue lost his job. Unable to gain employment, he was in need. On learning of his fate, my grandfather did the best he could do. He took up a collection, not of money but a set of tools. He brought this man a helping hand, not a handout not just something to get him by, but a true hand up. A living.
History - Bannanas
Fresh off the boat from Eurpoe with only a few dollars, my grandparents saw a vendor selling bannanas. Never having seen a bannana before, they decided to try this amazing fruit that they heard about. Of course not knowing how to eat a bannana turned out to be a bit of a nuisance. Without pulling off the peel, they took bites of this rubbery fruit. They tossed it, not understanding what the big deal was all about.
Nice things
If you have nothing nice to say about someone you can always say....
Her feet touch the ground.
Her feet touch the ground.
Bad Grandpa...
So... not everything my grandfather said was spiritual and clean, but they sure were funny.
Such as:
Throw a flag over her head and F*ck the country!
Just because I'm on a diet, doesn't mean I can't look at the menu.
A 2 at 10 is a 10 at 2.
Such as:
Throw a flag over her head and F*ck the country!
Just because I'm on a diet, doesn't mean I can't look at the menu.
A 2 at 10 is a 10 at 2.
Welcome
I dedicate this blog to my grandfather's words of wisdom.
Simple, funny, great advice for all times, for all of us.
Simple, funny, great advice for all times, for all of us.
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