I’m not so very confident that “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” More and more, I’m starting to think that pathway goes right through the center of his tool shed, perhaps by way of the workshop. For our family, the trail continues on throughout the house, down into the basement, up into the attic, and into at least two of the three vehicles that are in the driveway.
Not that my husband actually loves his tools, but he very much appreciates the way they make life so very much easier. Life…and pretty much every project associated with our home. As my dad taught me early on, “Every project needs a tool, and a power tool is even better.” Mom continued my education later with the assurance that not only does every project need a tool, but the vast majority of projects needed new tools for the collection.
I grew up with Dad’s presents from Mom, whether for major holidays or for minor ones, pretty much always being tools or tool-related (besides the traditional dental floss in the stocking). Apparently, the tradition started shortly after, or even possible before they were married, when Dad’s father clued Mom in, to what tools Dad needed or would like to have. After my grandfather passed away, Mom started, somewhere along the line, having Dad go through a Lowe’s or Home Depot flier and highlight or circle things. From that, Mom would work her way through as many things as she had saved enough to get. Now that Dad works in a big tool store, he tells her when this, that, or the other cool tool is on sale or clearance, and she’ll do a bit of scheming to try to get it, without his knowing, to stash away for the next gift-giving holiday.
When it came time for me to start giving Dad real gifts, I tried to jump in on the action, but Mom was doing a pretty good job saving, so she frequently managed to get him everything he’d marked in the flier. That left me to fend for myself, so I’ve gotten him a few pairs of socks and a belt or two.
Now that I’m married, I’ve considered getting tools for my husband, but he’s very much a tool guy, with strong likes and dislikes and a whole lot more tools than any of the men I’ve ever known personally. The best part of it is, he doesn’t just collect tools–he uses them. In the short time we’ve been married, I can’t count how many times he has reminded me of the difference that having the right tool makes. Funny, that reminder often immediately precedes an addition to the collection. The only dust that settles on the vast majority of them, though, is the dust created by other tools in use.
Having been single for some time and spent several years working with his dad and then working for other people, my husband has created a larger tool collection than most homeowners. A big part of our being able to do so much renovation work is that we have the tools to do it right. Not everyone has that advantage, and for those people, hiring a contractor can save a whole lot of headaches and potential heartache.
For those looking for a general contractor in the Bethesda, Maryland area, D.R. Hartman Construction, Inc. has thirty years of experience and offers no-obligation quotes. Specialty tools can make a big difference in all aspects of home renovation, so whether you’re planning a new kitchen in Potomac or considering adding a deck to a home in Damascus, consider D.R. Hartman Construction, Inc.
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