Heartwarming

[jigsue]

My hubby, John, required a screwdriver bit to fit into a brace. It needed to be the exact size, 'cos it was for large bronze screws (costing £1.20 - about $2.30 each). Off he trots to our local independant hardware store and speaks to the guy at the counter. Being under 40, the assistant didn't have a clue what he was talking about.

Luckily the old guy behind John did. As the assistant was haphazardly glancing through various catalogues, the old guy wrote down his telephone number and address and told my husband. "Pop round in the morning, I have exactly what you need"

Needless to say, John did. The screwdriver bit was there waiting for him and the old boy would accept no money for it. There's just something about woodworkers, isn't there?

Sue

[JohnB]

G'day Sue,
That's a nice yarn. It sort of restores your faith in humanity when a complete stranger can come to your assistance like that.

I agree, "There is just something about woodworkers". I have had many an enjoyable yak with other woodworkers at the markets, when I'm supposed to be selling stuff LOL

[azbison]

Sue and John, one thing I have made a custom at each of the shows I go to is to give something away. I'll find a kid that is real excited about a little something I have and I'll either track him down with a business card that has a coupon on the back (handwritten), or I'll hand it there to them on the spot. Sometimes you just have to do something nice.

[Barefoot1]

Nice to see that wood workers everywhere are that way. Andy - aka - Nubbin on this site sent me two screws for my planner when I could not get them anywhere else. He is in Florida in the midst of all those storms and still managed to get them to me. I wished they had fit but it was his gesture that mattered the most. It does restore your hope for mankind just a bit!

[Plaquerd]

Got to agree. I demo at the shows I do.........when allowed, give everything away to the people watching (try to give them to kids......but "grown-ups" get them too). It gives me a good feeling to see the looks on people's faces when you make something then hand it to them free.......some people don't believe me, they say no, I don't want to buy that, then I tell them it's free and their face lights up like a kid at Christmas. But the best is when someone "special", who is too shy to come forward, watches you making things for quite a while, to shy to come up and get a piece that I finally got up walked over to her and ask her to come up by the saw. This is an e-mail I got last year from a man who watched with his "special" daughter. It made my day and still gives me a good feeling.

11/21/07 11:51:35
Dave:
I ran into you awhile back at the Sussex County Fairgrounds along with my wife and daughter. You took the time and made my daughter a little swan on your scroll saw. I just wanted to say 'thank you' on behalf of our family. My daughter was thrilled with the swan, showed it to all her friends, and it still sits on her bookshelf in full view.
In this crazy world, it is nice to know that there are people like you who take the time to do these small jestures that mean the world to a child....and a father.
Thank you and I wish you all the best.
Mike Lensak

[Rolf]

I don't cut at the fairs that I do but I do have a bunch of the 3d cuttings to give away.
At last years Christmas fair I gave a dolphine to a little boy about 10 min later his mom comes up with the little boy all upset because she thought he had swiped it. I settled her down and gave her a swan. My best was a little old lady fell in love with a little rooster that I had, she was more excited than any little kid when I gave it too her.
It is a wonderful thing this hobby of ours.

[Old Dude]

Nice tale. Thanks for that. Makes you think there might 3 or 4 good-doers left in the world. Are they always old? Scary.

[minowevie]

Sue, that was so nice. it is amazing how woodworkers do shar. dang I think it is in are blood or something. wish horsmans was the same. if I get kicked, they lauph. and go into how stupid I am for doing what ever I am doing, wonder why I don't go to any other kind of forum. I love woodworkers. always willing to shar, and give advice, and even to the exspence of their own work, it will come back, don't worry. and yes, there is something about woodworkers. not only the gift, but the messadg we pass on. shazammm. your friend Evie