The pendant at the right is Papaw polished! You see, my father was a woodworker, not a professional, but a great hobbyist with a purpose. After retiring from the Army and then from work with the Soil Conservation Service, he spent many of his hours in his workshop, sawing, sanding, and polishing wood. He could make a new claw foot for a broken antique table leg or build a cabinet from scratch. He fixed things for the neighbors and built things for his friends and family. When my family visited him, I could hardly get in the door before he required me to take a trip out to the “shed” to see what he was doing. Often, I was solicited to help with the sanding and polishing.

Often I thought I was finished sanding a piece only to have Papaw run his rough hand across it and shake his head. That meant, there was more to be done. Although I really thought the sanding was often excessive, I quickly learned that I might as well do it right or he would go back and fix my work which was the ultimate insult.

Following the sanding, there were usually layers upon layers of varnish that went on a piece until the polish was just so. Of course there was sanding to be done between the layers. Sometimes, things then required a light coat of wax  or oil to produce the appropriate finish.

Today, I couldn’t help but think about Papaw as I worked on the pendant for the pictured piece. I cut it, hammered it, oxidized it and put it in the tumbler thinking that would be the end. Wrong! The edged were still slightly ragged. So, I ground them with the Dremel, smoothed them with the file and felt sure I was done. Wrong! The piece still wasn’t just right. I could practically see my father shaking his head. Finally, I worked on it with steel wool until I had something to be proud of. Yet, I can’t help but wonder if Papaw ran his hand over it would it be Papaw polished or would I be put back to work? Maybe I’d better go feel of that pendant again.