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Yesterday, Mike and I were finishing up a sign project that had taken many turns over the past few days. What started out to be a rather simple job turned into one of those "what else could go wrong" situations.
Mike and I made the Keystone Cops look like brain surgeons.
It seemed that finding the solution to one problem only turned up two more. A job that was estimated to take about five hours turned into almost 15 over a three day period. I'll spare you the details but a jack hammer was involved.
All that was presented to say this:
As we were sweating away in near 100 degree humid temperatures with sunburned necks and aching muscles I suddenly realized that we were working about 100 yards from where I had grown up. Just on the other side of the railroad tracks was the "old home place". The house was no longer there and weeds had taken over the eleven acres, but it was still my boyhood home - even though it belonged to someone else now.
Our sign job was in the middle of what once was farm land in my youth, but now was our local high school, football stadium and various local businesses and churches.
Fifty years ago my brother had given me some sable lettering brushes for my birthday (which I still have, by the way) and I had spent many evenings doing signs on the kitchen table...all just 100 yards from where we were working.
For several years prior to getting those sables my brother, Wayland, and I struggled to find information and equipment to do the signs that we both loved. Local signmen were tight lipped and offered little or no encouragement. Somehow we stumbled upon some information about sign paints and brushes through a local paint store...and we were off and running. (He recently celebrated the 46th anniversary of Belco Signs)
While growing up in the little rock house my dream was to learn hand lettering and the sign business and someday have my own shop. At the time it seemed an impossibility and a long way off at best.
Fortunately I met a beautiful young lady in high school that somehow thought that a usual Saturday night date was watching me paint signs. On Wednesday we will celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary and she still spends most of her time encouraging (or possibly enduring) my dream of painting signs. Also, on Wednesday I will be boarding a plane to fly to Indianapolis to do a workshop...so things haven't changed all that much.
Jeanne worked at Hendricks Hospital in Abilene to support us while I attended college and while she took time off from a "regular job" to see our two boys through school, she is now back working to support my dream of owning my own business. Wives like her are a rarity and I'm extremely fortunate.
Yesterday while looking across the tracks I realized that I was indeed living that 50 year old dream. The years in between have not been a bed of roses, but they have been spent living just about the best life possible. To do something you love for a long period of time is never work, but days filled with anticipation of doing something unique, creative, and fullfilling.
Next month I will attend my 45th high school reunion. Many of that class of 85 have retired, are taking cruises, or living in evident ease. We will celebrate our reunion at the summer home of one of our classmates - a multimillion dollar ranch.
Sitting on the ground in the shade yesterday attempting to catch my breath and trying to figure out how to make the impossible work, I figured I was just about the luckiest guy around. There is no money in the bank, debts are high, and I'm sure Jeanne is disappointed in her choice of White Knights, but to be able to get up every morning and not dread the day and be able to work with my son just has to be best dream going.
[ August 30, 2008, 03:10 PM: Message edited by: Raymond Chapman ]
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Wow Ray... How inspirational! I think Dan may just be rubbing off on you! All kidding aside, you are indeed lucky to have found someone who is such a blessing and who has been there to support your dream. As for your fellow classmate with the multimillion dollar ranch...just remember that with the privilege comes responsibility. Congrats on y'all's 45th anniversary!
-------------------- Nancie W. Phillips White Dove Painting Studio 74 Dacula Road, Dacula, GA 30019 678-887-3339
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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True success isn't defined by money. You make the case Raymond. 50 years? Sounds like we need to organize a party!!
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Thanks for the inspiring story Raymond! We are indeed fortunate to work at what we are passionate about and to share it with the ones we love so much. This is truly the definition of happiness and success.
Congratulations to you and Jeanne!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Congrats on your anniversary, Ray and Jeanne!
The sign dream part is something I live everyday. I know how you feel.
Have a great one!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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I just about lost my breath reading your post Ray. What a great time to be alive, right now. It's a breath of fresh air to almost hear your words verbally. Although I have never met you personally I feel we know each other. Just missed a time for us to meet at Long Beach, some years back at a Sign Business,show. You have way more wealth than the guy with the big house because your worries are much less today. Good Luck and be happy.
Jack
-------------------- Jack Wills Studio Design Works 1465 E.Hidalgo Circle Nye Beach / Newport, OR Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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That was a terrific post, Raymond. It's hard to imagine how many people would give everything they have to be happy in their life....and I'm talking about some of those "ranchers" you talked about.
I just went to my 45th reunion about a month ago. Some are retired and wealthy; some have met with some hard times along the way. Several I talked to conveyed the feeling that "I'm so happy to retire and get away from that hell-hole" or "another day in that (whatever) job and I'd have died".
Like you, I feel blessed to have this life. I'm a long way from wealthy, but my wife and I get along just fine; she has many interests that keep her busy, and she likes to see me involved in my sign work.
I look forward to getting up every morning and going to work, and don't really care if I never retire. As long as the Good Lord keeps us healthy and business stays like it is, I couldn't really ask for more. I've had at least my share of bumps along this crazy road, but I'm truly happy to be able to share the skills and talents I've been blessed with.
Thanks again, Ray, for sharing.
-------------------- Dale Feicke Grafix 714 East St. Mendenhall, MS 39114
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Posts: 2963 | From: Mendenhall, MS | Registered: Apr 1999
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Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6716 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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What a great way to start to day in reading that- you DO inspire me on a regular basis, anyway! Blessings to you all!
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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I call him every now and again and he gives me lots of good advice and encouragement.
What I’d like to read more about is his lectures. Those, all expenses paid, high dollar, tours around the country. You know the ones where you hop on a Luxury Air Liner and high off to some beautiful city. It’s back breaking work dragging those suitcases around airports and having to stay in those lush, expensive hotels with a pool and Big Fluffy towels.
The down side, to my way of thinking, would be the mandatory Grip and Grin part of the show. But, all in all, it’s only an hour of showing a few old photos and telling a good story or two. Then he’s off for the day. Free to do what ever. And theirs good food too, that’s on the bill also.
That’s what I’d like to read more about, not the hot sweaty stuff.
-------------------- Joe Crumley Norman Sign Company 2200 Research Park Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 Posts: 1428 | From: 2200 Research Park Blvd. | Registered: Sep 2001
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Thanks for the nice comments, folks. I'll pass them along to Jeanne.
And thanks Joe Crumley. I would write more about the lectures, but it's such a grueling pace that I'm sure it would frighten the younger folks. It's very similar to those workshops you hold where you get folks from around the country to pay you big bucks to travel to Norman so that you can "sell" them the tricks you stole from someone else. And I know that all those samples provided by various vendors will all be used up at the workshop.
If you need any more straightening out, just give me a call.
Joe's a great artist and never grumpy.
After Mike read the original story he reminded me of something else I said that was not included in the first saga.
While growing up, my Dad thought post hole digging (or any type of manual labor) was a great way to reveal character. Eleven acres has a lot of fence posts and a lot of rocks to clear for gardens. As a teen I also had a dream of someday not having to dig in the ground anymore.
Fifty years later and 100 yards away I was still working with dirt and rocks. Some dreams remain dreams.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ray, without realizing it, you perfectly described the true meaning of success. I too am just as lucky to have realized a dream. Bill
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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There are many(way to many...) that would love to have your life, Raymond...that being, loving(or at least mostly having fun and inspiration) as their work/life experience!! congratulations all around!
John
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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Ray, what a great story! thanks for sharing that with us. It serves as a reminder of just how lucky I am, I started lettering and selling my work at the age of 14 and all though my career has had a few twists and turns and trials and errors I've always came back the what I truly love doing. I like you and many others that have posted feel extremely blessed to go to work each day doing something that I truly enjoy. I sometimes feel guilty for taking the money! Not unlike you there s not much money in the bank and plenty of bills still to be paid. But I eat well and have a roof over my head 3 wonderful children and a wife that has a good job teaching so that I can stay in business. Not much chance of retiring even if I wanted to. I'm pretty sure the day I retire is the day the drop me in the ground. I often joke that I'd like to win the lottery so that I could stay in business another year! You and your wisdom have always been an inspiration to me. Happy anniversary and many more to come.
-------------------- Dan E. Kearfott KEARFOTT GRAPHIX 312 W. 8th St. Gibson City, IL 60936
Success comes in "Cans", Failure comes in "Cant's" Posts: 121 | From: Gibson City, Illinois | Registered: Mar 2003
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