Carpentry Skills Inform Journal Writing Skills

Zearl "Red" Dodson in Uniform

My dad taught me a few things about swinging a hammer. For instance I know that holding a hammer in a certain way (at the bottom of the handle) will give added force to the strike. I also understand that it is important to choose a hammer which is comfortable for the particular user.

Hammering away at your journal

There are a couple of different methods of driving a nail into a piece of wood which every good carpenter must know and use in order to accomplish certain tasks.

The first skill a carpenter must master is simply placing a nail in a straight on position and using the hammer to drive the nail into place. The concept is quite simple although the bent nails and smashed thumbs are proof that the skill may take a while to develop.

Don’t jump to conclusions

So you may be thinking I’m suggesting that with enough practice you will be an excellent journal writer. While it is probably true the constant practice of journal writing will improve your skill the point I’m making is a bit different.

This is the story

Soon after moving to a new city, when I was a high school freshman, I went to a shopping mall. While there I noticed three girls from my school. I knew one by name because we were in the same English class. It was exciting for me to see people I knew so I walked up to them saying Hi and addressing the one I knew by name.

She turned, gave me an icy stare and asked, “Do I know you?” As I began explaining how we knew one another, she turned her back on me and suggested that I leave her and her friends alone. With a big, gaping gash in my ego I did indeed make a hasty, teary eyed retreat.

Drive that nail straight in

It was a while later that I used the drive-the-nail-straight-in technique in my journal. When I wrote about that particular encounter it no longer brought tears to my eyes. I picked up the nail, grabbed the hammer and noted the fact that I couldn’t remember Snotty-girl’s name. I couldn’t remember Snotty-girl’s face. Couldn’t remember Snotty-girl’s friend’s faces either.

With each whack of the hammer (pen stroke) I noted:

• Strike — Being rude gains you nothing
• Strike — Being kind opens up new worlds
• Strike — One nasty encounter does not stop me from being a friendly out-going person
• Strike — Dwelling on past hurts helps no one
• And, I drove that nail home with – I’m glad that most people I meet are kind

The second hammering technique

Another important hammering skill a carpenter must master is that of toenailing. For a good explanation of how to toenail I think the folks at The Family Handyman have the best photos and text.

The two important reasons to toenail are to make the joint stronger and to be able to get the wood into its proper position.

Another shopping story

As a young wife and mom I had occasion to once again go shopping. This time I was with my bosses wife and her cousin. We had gone to a high end store which was within their budgets but certainly out of mine.

The fact that I couldn’t purchase anything in that store was not a problem. I was enjoying feeling the luxurious textures of the fabrics, noting the obvious skills of the seamstresses, and getting an eyeful of the exotic displays. At every turn I was excited to share what I was discovering.

At one point I shouted out to my bosses’ wife, wanting her to join me on my side of the store. Her obvious embarrassment at my loud call rolled over me like crashing waves. Red faced and sheepish I continued moving through the store and wishing I could simply disappear.

Toenailing in my journal

With the toenailing method I used in my journal this is what I discovered:

• Position the board — It is harder to get over an embarrassment if you bring it on yourself
• Straighten the board – Each experience we have (good or bad) teaches us something
• Draw the board in – I’m just guessing my bosses wife embarrassed herself at some point
• Drive in the angled nail – I can afford to shop in that store now
• Complete the nailing – Sometimes my companions in that store call for me to see something and I’m glad they want me to share their joy

The man who taught me about hammering nails

Since my dad was born on Veterans Day I thought this would be a perfect day for telling you about him.

My Dad, Zearl “Red” Elwyn Dodson, was born November 11, 1929 in Amarillo, Texas. Almost 22 years later he helped my Mom welcome me into the world, then 3 years later my brother. While Dad did many things throughout his lifetime he spent most of his adult life supporting 2 kids and a wife by hammering nails into wood. Yes, he was a carpenter.

He was an extraordinary carpenter who loved the feel of wood, the smell of wood, the very nature of wood. He was always so proud to show us the bank, the theater, the mall, the crusher, the restaurant, the mill, the latest project he helped build.

Just months before he died at the age of 76 he climbed the ladder that allowed him to help replace the roof of my house. He wasn’t satisfied to direct the operation from the ground. He wanted to be a part of swinging the hammer.

Dad used to tell me that I talked too fast. I told him he listened too slow. I’m grateful for all he taught me, including how to drive nails. I miss him.

Tagged as: journal, journal writer, journal writing, noted, pen, wrote