Fitting, I think...
to post something about this, on my birthday.
I read Kim's post, and laughed. Not because it was funny, but because it's true. I know more people who can't do anything for themselves anymore, and it's that way for no other reason than they just don't care enough to learn. They don't want to get their hands dirty for sure, but they are usually too caught up with what kind of image or class is associated with whatever it is they are paying someone else to do for them, be it changing a light bulb, cutting their own grass or fixing their own car.
My dad taught me everything he knows about automobiles. That's important, I think. He taught me to pay attention to what he was doing when I was about 5 years old, and I'd stick my head under the hood with him. After watching him do things as simple as oil changes and new plugs, I knew that I'd at least be able to do those things, for myself, when needed. After a few years, he got me into turning wrenches. We started doing a LOT of that by the time I was 10 or so, as the POS Ford pickup that he drove at the time, though not very old, was in constant need of attention for one reason or another. I hated that damn thing. It always seemed to break down in winter, and it gets cold in Kansas City! Shift tube for the three-on-the-tree shifter? I did two of those! Clutch and pressure plate? At least it was summer, but man, that tranny was heavy. I got to do the oil changes after a while, and my work was scrutinized during and after. I had to do it right.
Several cars passed through our family's possession over the years, with my responsibilities growing with each one. Eventually, I purchased my own beater and slowly restored a car, rebuilding the entire vehicle while working my way through architecture school. I turned a rust-bucket into this.
It disturbs me when I see people in public who are obviously too stupid to do things that aren't all that hard, like drive in a straight line, and get upset, to the point of wanting to go fisticuffs (I wish they'd start following through), when I honk to point out their deficiencies. This is a minor point for sure, but it shows me that more people just don't care about having tangible skills anymore.
Before I reached age 20, I had largely mastered rough and finish carpentry, learned to wire a house, set a toilet, and could certainly change an EFFING LIGHTBULB.
So, why do I continue to change my own oil, when I now have the resources to have someone else do it? Mostly because I don't want someone screwing it up what I know I can do better and cheaper. Most look at me like I have some sort of problem when I tell them this. My response is usually, "What the hell is wrong with people?"
So what does any of this have to do with my birthday? My dad taught me how to do almost all of it. I know you're not going to read this, but thanks Dad.
I read Kim's post, and laughed. Not because it was funny, but because it's true. I know more people who can't do anything for themselves anymore, and it's that way for no other reason than they just don't care enough to learn. They don't want to get their hands dirty for sure, but they are usually too caught up with what kind of image or class is associated with whatever it is they are paying someone else to do for them, be it changing a light bulb, cutting their own grass or fixing their own car.
My dad taught me everything he knows about automobiles. That's important, I think. He taught me to pay attention to what he was doing when I was about 5 years old, and I'd stick my head under the hood with him. After watching him do things as simple as oil changes and new plugs, I knew that I'd at least be able to do those things, for myself, when needed. After a few years, he got me into turning wrenches. We started doing a LOT of that by the time I was 10 or so, as the POS Ford pickup that he drove at the time, though not very old, was in constant need of attention for one reason or another. I hated that damn thing. It always seemed to break down in winter, and it gets cold in Kansas City! Shift tube for the three-on-the-tree shifter? I did two of those! Clutch and pressure plate? At least it was summer, but man, that tranny was heavy. I got to do the oil changes after a while, and my work was scrutinized during and after. I had to do it right.
Several cars passed through our family's possession over the years, with my responsibilities growing with each one. Eventually, I purchased my own beater and slowly restored a car, rebuilding the entire vehicle while working my way through architecture school. I turned a rust-bucket into this.
It disturbs me when I see people in public who are obviously too stupid to do things that aren't all that hard, like drive in a straight line, and get upset, to the point of wanting to go fisticuffs (I wish they'd start following through), when I honk to point out their deficiencies. This is a minor point for sure, but it shows me that more people just don't care about having tangible skills anymore.
Before I reached age 20, I had largely mastered rough and finish carpentry, learned to wire a house, set a toilet, and could certainly change an EFFING LIGHTBULB.
So, why do I continue to change my own oil, when I now have the resources to have someone else do it? Mostly because I don't want someone screwing it up what I know I can do better and cheaper. Most look at me like I have some sort of problem when I tell them this. My response is usually, "What the hell is wrong with people?"
So what does any of this have to do with my birthday? My dad taught me how to do almost all of it. I know you're not going to read this, but thanks Dad.
