10
Appreciation post: The guy I met at a bus stop in Spokane who changed my mind about a tool
About five years ago, I was waiting for a bus in the rain, trying to fix a busted tape measure. This older guy next to me, a carpenter, saw me struggling and just said, 'Here, try this.' He handed me a specific brand, a Tajima, from his bag. I'd always used the cheap ones from the hardware store and thought they were all the same. That chance meeting made me buy one. The difference was huge. The blade didn't bend, the lock didn't slip, and it lasted me three full years of daily use on job sites before I even thought about replacing it. I never got his name, but I think about that five minute chat every time I pull my tape out. Anyone else have a small piece of advice from a stranger that stuck with you for years?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
susanm561mo ago
My uncle was a mechanic who swore by a single brand of wrench for fifty years. That kind of loyalty comes from a tool that just works and never lets you down. It turns a simple object into a trusted friend.
6
hugomurray1mo ago
Wait, the same wrench for fifty whole years?
4
rowanharris1mo ago
Fifty years with the same wrench? That's wild to think about. It must have been built like a tank to last that long. I guess some things really are made to outlive us.
5