Growing up we live events we will never forget. For the most part, we remember certain things, even down to the detail of the conversation, smells, what was served for a meal and what was on TV. Other times are but a vague thought until a similar situation in life reminds us. Even then, we can’t be sure if we are remembering the exact thing that happened, our perception of what happened, or if we remember Christmas bean casserole, but we really had asparagus on that day in our past.
With my father, the things I remember the most are the family things. Us kids playing games around the table. Dad teaching us poker, the spinning clakity-clack of the wheel in the Life game, Dad’s look when I beat him at chess for the first time with Out his help, the few talks about how to tie a tie, and so forth.
My Dad was what they called a draftsman. He basically did the detailed drawings for shop equipment and processing machines, and his specialty was the hydraulics. Now and then he would do commercial building parts, like the hydraulics for building elevators, but for the most part he was always chasing some part spec in a catalog, then to incorporate it into the drawing. Today, with AutoCAD, online specs and databases, his job is one that is truly extinct.
He taught me how to use the slide rule. Once I figured it out, I would use it to calculate things for my magic show, like hidden compartment dimensions, spring tension for trap doors, and other tricky things. I eventually used it as a calculator for math, but the teachers always wanted to ‘See the Work’, which I never did- it was too boring and too slow, even though my answers were always correct.
As far as fun, we pretty much did most of the things that are on this weeks’ top ten list. What was popular back then is still popular today:
play mini golf
ball game
bowling
go fishing
play catch
visit a historic site
go for a bike ride
take a hike
have a movie night
camping
When it really came down to one on one time with my Dad, I’d say the limitation was not the attention or activities away from the house, but in what was available at home to do. Tools are not cheap.
Here at SCRaP, we have lots of tools available for fathers and kids to use together. So bring Dad or your kids down and use our tools to share your family experiences….. build something or volunteer some time with us. Come imagine in our Makerspace the endless possibilities to create your family experience that will last for a lifetime!