In Tough Times, Generosity
Surfer’s aren’t known for their attention to current events, their activism or their socio-political awareness. But with the news of the world and the folly of the high and mighty finally landing inescapably in everybody else’s laps, there’s been alot of interesting conversation around the shop these days.
Lots of our friends are reeling a bit from the drastic downturn in the economy. No one seems to have escaped it, but most people we know are carrying on, mostly with a smile and their usual energy and good spirits.
Chris Smith is one of our friends (recently pledged to become our own Sarah’s husband one day soon) who still has his chin up. Among his pile of interesting skills is the fact that he’s an old-school woodworker who knows all the secrets of sign carving. What a guy – he’s making Grain a giant sign that will be painstakingly routered, carved and painted to hang on the lawn by the barn. It’s generous gestures like these that remind us that whatever disastrous corners the big “they” might back us into, acts of kindness, compassion and friendship will be what brings us through it all.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
What a boon for Grain – the sign is looking really good Chris, I can’t wait to see the final result.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:26 am
ride on!
May 5th, 2009 at 9:56 am
so sweet
May 9th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
How’s it paddle????
May 10th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Status report: Chris took the sign away a couple of weeks ago, and I saw a paint-test chip laying around the shop recently, so chances are next time we see this giant slab-o-wood, it’ll be all brown & blue and grain-ey. We can’t wait. Thanks again Chris!!
(Scott G: If it ever delams – like, thirty years from now – we’ll shape it into a couple of alaia’s and report on how they paddle then. Stay tuned, I guess…)
May 11th, 2009 at 11:26 am
good man!