Just the Guy That Hauls Lumber

He decided on the first day what his role was and had no interest in progressing

Pete's light blue house with the screened-in front porch. The front screen door banged closed. Bright and early. My first day of construction.

I went to the front door by mistake. Pete wasn't ready yet. His kids asked me what I was doing there. I told them I was working for their dad.

We hopped in his truck. Chew in his lip. Slow drawl. Not a fast moving guy. Easy smile. First stop was Home Depot for my tool belt and the basics. He'd cover it and take it out of my first paycheck.

A tool belt, a framing hammer, a square, a pencil, a tape measure, a cat's paw, and a chalk line. That was what it took to get started.

I was the guy who hauled lumber. It was hard and sweaty work. I liked it.

Pete watched me nail my first wall. Tap tap tap to get it started, then drive it home. He said no. That's not the way. The first hit should drive it in at least a third. A 16-penny nail takes two or three hits.

Many sore fingers later, I had it. I'd carry that into the operating room years later without realizing where I'd first learned it.

The coldest day we ever worked was negative twelve. You couldn't wear full gloves because you needed your fingers free. Most crews stayed home. It was just me and Paul, Pete's twin. I was glad we were working. I needed the cash.

The next summer they hired Jason to haul lumber. The same job I'd started in.

One day I was up on a porch roof trying to nail a 12-foot 2x6 across the roofline. Heavy. Balancing it with one hand and swinging with the other. Jason was hauling below me. I asked him to come up and hold the board.

He said no.

I laughed. Come on up.

No. I'm just the guy that hauls lumber.

I started in the same role. Same crew. He decided on day one who he was and stayed there. Never climbed the roof.

Today is Labor Day. Three and a half years on that crew paid for an engineering degree.

This week, when someone above you asks for a hand, climb up. The job you were hired for is where you start.

The good thing is, you decide the rest one board at a time.

-

Good Thing Monday goes out every Monday. One story, one good thing.

Tell me your good thing this week. I read every one.