Grandpa’s hammer

-by Karen Ray

In my grandparents’ era, the question of whether to repair or replace an item was irrelevant.  Repair was usually the only option.  So, when faced with a broken hoe, I let my brain do a little time-traveling and decided to make the repair, just like my Grandpa would have done.

I dug through my beat-up toolbox for the needed parts, searching for just the right tools in my odd collection gleaned from extras belonging to the men in my family.  I have a nostalgic streak a mile wide and cherish the strong cords of connection tying together present and past generations.  Working with objects that have a history is satisfying, and I love thinking about the hands that used them to keep home, farm, wagons or autos running smoothly.

Finally, I chose my favorite hammer, inherited from my Dad, who received it from his dad.  Grandpa’s hammer has a worn, ash handle, the grain smooth from 70 years of use and spotted with colorful paint and nicks from a lifetime of projects.  I love how he used a bent horseshoe nail to tighten the head to the handle.

Repairing the hoe required a dusty rummage through Grandpa’s collection of assorted hardware. With just the right salvaged bolt in hand along with Grandpa’s hammer, I was ready to begin.  With the hoe repaired, I thought of the finely crafted dairy barn his father had built with hand tools in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.  I wonder if this was the first time this hammer had been put to work.

What cherished heirloom or treasure do you have that can bridge the gap between generations to forge a story that becomes a life enriching treasure?