THE CARVER

THE CARVER
the carver was really an artisian, an artist,and  a remarkable
woodworker and man
loved talking to him as his accent speech and mannerism
reminded me of people where i grew up in the south
he spoke my language
he was a special person
always enjoyed spending time with him
everyone where i work enjoyed having him come by and
show us his handywork
he will be missed

my  wife she first encountered him when she bought a
wooden cutting board for my medical school friends son
and wifes wedding present
she was looking for some one to carve their names on
the cutting board and put the date of their wedding on it

she went to a nearby small town and asked around
they told him the carver was located 1 block off the main
highway

she took the board in to his shop      he was in the
back and came up front      she told him what he
wanted     he took the board looked at it and said
he thought he could do it      he said first though
that he needed something to calm his nerves
he reached in his pocket and took a plug of tobacco
and put it in his lip and said ok im ready

he took the board and carved the names and dates
on it     of course it was perfect
she said how much      he said nothing  
he got it back from me later       he never knew
though that was my wife

one day he bought by one of the wooden bowls he
carved from mesquite      told him i was looking for a
large bowl for out kitchen table     asked him how much

it was more than i wanted to pay

after a few weeks he was called to see if he still had the
bowl     no he had sold it     later he told me he had
pulled up to a parking spot and a lady pulled up next to him
she saw the bowl      she asked how much    
he told her and she wrote him a check for it

later he came by to show me some of his work     asked
him if he could make me a bowl with a chicken theme
he said sure     he  had a mesquite stump that he had bought
recently that he would carve for us    although carve doesnt do
his work justice
never discussed the price      had already decided would pay
what ever he asked

a few weeks later he bought in the bowl
as my wife she would say it was 'amazing'
it was so much more than i was expecting

it was 2 ft x 2 ft and was a chicken sitting with the middle
portion carved out, with a detailed head, detailed wings,
and detailed tail       it was heavy as it was from mesquite

didnt argue the price just paid it

this bowl will last forever       it will be passed down for
generations    

we keep the bowl in the center of our dining room table and
keep fruit or veggies in it      
every morning and night always think of the carver when i go
by it    
now that he is gone  i pause a little longer and think about him
and can just hear him talking    

thanks again for the 'carving' and thanks again for letting me
know you

you will be missed

the organicgreen doctor