The Family Trades
Living by Making
During my years working as a firefighter in a New England town, I [like most of my co-workers in the fire department] worked a second job. For me, following in the footsteps of my father and older brother, the carpentry trade made perfect sense.
My father set the mold - a call firefighter in the same department for 30 years and a builder for nearly 60 years - he trained my older brother and myself in the family trades.
Tools of the Trade
When I turned sixteen, Dad handed me a hammer and asked the question:
Are you ready to work?
During my years of on-the-job training with Dad, I earned an associates degree in Building Construction Technology at New Hampshire Technical College. Continuing to work with my father and brother during my career at the fire department, I was exposed to all phases of residential wood frame construction.
Carpe Diem & Retirement
After 21 years of service in the fire department, retirement for me meant, well, more work. Still "ready to work", I can't imagine not being busy and continue to enjoy the carpentry trade. In addition to the living it provides, carpentry keeps me active and involved in community. It's my way to "Seize the day!"
Today, I look for variety in my work and schedule, taking on projects which can be finished in a day or those which take several months.
Made by Hand
While more and more people spend their days working with gadgets, electronics and push button technologies, the house is still made by hand - a stick and a nail at a time.
Being involved in hand-crafted work brings balance to the day. Maintaining a safe distance between the hammer and the cell-phone, Carpenter Diem attempts to keep up with the times while honoring a craftsman's way of life.