Vacuosity

Get a grip

My hands are puffy and swollen from the day's work yesterday. Is there any way to do this type of thing and not mangle your hands? They always seem to get bashed and bruised, nicked and blistered. I actually bought a pair of work gloves to help prevent the soreness, but couldn't bring myself to wear them. I thought it would too wimpy.

My hands aren't used to it, which is why they are complaining. They don't know what real work is. Ocassionally, I'll get the motivation to do some building, or sanding, or something, and they get a taste of work, but only in the same way that a man who goes camping once a year knows the outdoors. It's a vague comprehension.

On Sunday, I shook hands with a man who does construction for a living. He's not a big man, about my height, very slender; it's very misleading. To see him dressed in a suit, you might think he's an accountant. But his hands tell the story. They're about twice the size of mine, and they feel like they could turn rocks to powder. I dared him to give my hand a good hard squeeze but he wouldn't. I know he's too modest for that.

I often think that's what we should all be doing; just working hard, not whiling away the hours in our giant towers, building imaginary empires.

posted by David @ 5:54 a.m.