posted
That's a terrific story, Ricardo. I wouldn't be afraid to guess that there are a lot more of the same kind of tales out there....probably a good many, right here in Letterville.
I used to hear tales, when I was still in Cincinnati, from some of the old timers, about how they worked their way all over the country. It must have been a crazy existence, an old truck with your entire life in it.....working from one day to the next. I don't think I'd like to do it in today's world; but back then, it would've possibly been one hell of a neat adventure.
-------------------- 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
| IP: Logged |
Back in the 70s, I was in Miami, shortly after having been re-located, from Boston, by a local sign shop....During those years, I was always dreaming of buying a Westfalia van, to load it up with, just, my personal stuff and a few cans of paints and drive away, across the good ol' USA, to paint signs anywhere.........Then, I met a beautiful girl and my dreams were, magically, gone.
Can't complain....I want to believe that I have had a great ride, until now.
RD
P.S. --Dale, I had a friend, from Toledo, Ohio, who used to live, almost, like how you describe it....and.... the stories he used to tell, always, kept everybody around him in stitches....May he rest in peace.
posted
What a shame he never got involved with the letterheads. What a great teacher he could have been with all his experience.
-------------------- 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
| IP: Logged |
posted
What a treat to have worked with John. I could tell many stories of our time together but it would sound kind of bizzare. Mostly about our boss at the shop and even some typical trivals of our business. He was a excellent paint slinger who also taught lettering at a local Jr. College, which I took over when he and his wife left to Arizona...
-------------------- Jack Wills Studio Design Works 1465 E.Hidalgo Circle Nye Beach / Newport, OR Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
So I take it the guy still lives in Oregon. I'm gonna have to look him up next time I'm driving through thar. Great story.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3814 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
If he's still around. He indicates he was born in 1922 which wd make him 92 now.
As recently as 2005 I still had the idea of taking off cross-country living in a station wagon and painting landscapes. I'd become very used to living alone. I had everything fixed up ready to go, got 200 miles away from San Francisco and developed a busted radiator. One thing led to another and before you know it I'd run into my first wife, who I hadnt heard of in 45 years. We ended up getting together again, so here I am.
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
thanks for posting this story ricardo. john passed in 2007 at the age of 84. he befriended me when he first came to the eugene area, and when they decided to move here , i took amtrak to mesa, az. and drove him back to oregon. he would hang out at my studio now and then, and i would have him help me with laying leaf. he never wanted me to pay him , but i wouldn't hear of it. i would drive him around for various errands he needed to run, and i was there at his final hours. he was such a good honorable man.
Printer-friendly view of this topic